Watch a Farmer Dig Out A Very Rare and Incredibly Large Blue Cobra

This is not what farmers expect to harvest from the earth! The farmer in this clip has dug up a huge blue cobra that looks as if it would prefer to remain hidden. Perhaps the farmer eventually just covered it back up and decided to plant crops elsewhere?

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Where Do Cobras Normally Live?

Cobras are large snakes in the Elapidae family and are found in Africa, Asia, and the Middle East. They are found in cultivated areas as we see in this clip, but are also found in rainforests and deciduous forests. Cobras have been spotted in rice paddies and even in urban areas. Some live in temperate climates in open savannas and grasslands but others prefer arid climates.

There are 38 known cobra species and several have been classed as vulnerable, near threatened, or endangered. The rest, however, have healthy populations.

What Do Cobras Look Like?

Cobras are usually long and slender snakes that can reach up to 10 feet in length. They have a wide variety of colors and patterns including tan, red, multicolored, and as we see here, blue. One example is the monocled cobra which is often spotted in agricultural fields. It is amongst the most dangerous snakes in the world and is responsible for more deaths than any other snake in Thailand.

What Is the Cobra’s Hood?

Cobras have hoods around their heads which they can expand to make themselves look larger. The word cobra comes from the Portuguese phrase “cobra de capello,” which means “snake with hood.” All cobras have this distinctive feature. This is made up of several elongated ribs, skin, and the muscles that control its movement. Scientists have now located the exact muscles involved. The process of spreading the hood begins at the head and extends downward. In all, eight sets of muscles are involved. One set of muscles connecting the ribs to the skin keeps the hood taut. Then another set of muscles between the ribs spreads the load. Keeping the hood spread requires quite a lot of effort!

Are Cobras Dangerous?

Cobras are venomous snakes that hunt mice, rats, frogs, toads, lizards, eggs, and even other snakes. Their venom is ejected from their fangs into the prey and immobilizes and/or kills them. This venom can be injected into humans if they make the cobra feel threatened. Cobra venom contains a potent alpha-neurotoxin.

Getting bitten by a cobra is never pleasant but it is not necessarily life-threatening. The seriousness of the effects depends on the age and species of the snake, the route of entry to the body, and several other factors. Many patients make a complete recovery whilst others die within an hour of a cobra bite!

The photo featured at the top of this post is © reptiles4all/Shutterstock.com