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False Cobra |
| False Cobra | ||||||||||||||
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| Malpolon moilensis (Reuss, 1834) |
The false cobra (Malpolon moilensis) is a mildly venomous snake found in parts of Asia. The name "False Cobra" comes from the fact that this is not a cobra. It imitates a cobra's stance by spreading its neck into a hood and hissing like the cobra. It can grow up to 1.5 metres in length and preys on rodents and lizards.
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Adults are usually 80-140 cm in length, but some specimens have reached about 1.9 meters. They have big round eyes, reddish in color. One distinctive feature that the snake has is a black blotch which runs from the cheek to the angle of the jaw.
It generally has a straw colored background checkered with brownish spots running along the body. The belly surface is usually creme.
Malpolon Moilensis, False Cobra, Hooded Malpolon. In Arabic "الحفاث".
The Malpolon Moilensis is found in North Africa and the Middle East.
When threatened, the Malpolon Moilensis will imitate a cobra's stance by spreading its neck into a hood and hissing like the cobra.
In the wild, it mainly feeds on rodents, fledgling birds, and lizards. Captives accept mice (pre-killed, frozen, and live).
The M. moilensis is not commonly found in collections in the United States, possibly due to the highly aggressive nature of some specimens. In the middle east, they are rarely found in some petshops, as snakes aren't commonly kept as pets. Some specimens can be extremely docile and easy to handle, while others might not tolerate handling and display their above-mentioned defensive posture. The venom may not be deadly, but if the rear fangs do get hold of bare flesh, the pain can be equivalent to a wasp sting and last for several hours, followed by several days of itching at the site. Blog entry, Darlington, J.S., 8/20/2008. http://www.myspace.cpm/big_and_mean And, as with all rear-fanged colubrids, a severe anaphylactic reaction is always possible.
In captivity, the malpolon should be kept at low humidity, and can be fed a mouse (pinkies for smaller specimens) once every 14-20 days. They should be supplied with a clean bowl of water, a hiding place, and a small rock to assist in the shedding proccess.
The malpolon will shed once every 30-50 days. Like other snakes, the process will take about 7-10 days. On the first two days, the eyes will become bluish in color and the skin will become pale. A week later, the snake will shed its skin. During the whole period, you should avoid handling the snake or feeding it.
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