Like other cobras, this large snake spreads its "hood" as a warning to other animals. When alarmed, it rears up and widens its neck skin by altering the position of its ribs. The hood-spreading behavior makes the snake look larger than it actually is, and is used to scare off predators. It may also serve as a warning that the snake is venomous.
Here at the Zoo
The Herpetarium is home to our Central Asian cobras.
