NARRATOR: While
non-venomous snakes
squeeze their prey to death,
cobras rely on venom to kill.
With relatively small
fangs, and slender bodies,
they're more vulnerable during
hunts than their larger,
more muscular cousins.
They must bite can
latch onto their prey
to release their deadly venom.
This technique poses
little danger to cobras
when they attack small animals.
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Large animals must be
disabled immediately.
Otherwise, cobras risk
injury, or even death.
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When threatened,
they use their hoods,
rise up and widen their neck
ribs to make themselves look
bigger than they really are.
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Basically, they bluff their way
out of treacherous situations,
allowing them to continue on.
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But some cobras have a
more dangerous weapon.
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While all venomous
snakes deliver venom
through close contact
with their fangs,
spitting cobras can do
long-range assaults.
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By contracting
their venom glands,
spitting cobras can squeeze
small amounts of venom
at high pressure
through their fangs.
Enlarged fang holes
direct the venom upward
and outward as the
snake opens its mouth
to widen the target area.
With enough pressure,
the spray can be
shot more than six feet away.
Their venom combines
neurotoxins and cytotoxins.
Serious damage can be
caused if it's inhaled
or makes contact with a wound.
But the real target is the face.
The cobra aims to
blind its attacker.
