Cobras

Tracking food, a cobra darts its tongue in and out, collecting scents that help it detect even the smallest mouse. When a cobra strikes prey, it doesn't spread its famous hood. Instead it lunges, bites, and holds on, pumping venom into its victim to not only kill it but to start the digestive process. It's only when threatened that a cobra rises high and unfurls its hood, waiting for the right moment to strike its enemy. While thousands of people die from cobra bites each year, these snakes are revered in many cultures. Learn more in this edition of Nature Watch.