[Guns N' Coffee]

[William May]

I thought cobras were deadly. But the squirrels and the mongoose were pretty much making a fool of that cobra.

Perhaps they were SQUIRREL ELEMENTS!!!!

[kellyhound]

Originally Posted by William May ↗

I thought cobras were deadly. But the squirrels and the mongoose were pretty much making a fool of that cobra.

Both animals have evolved specific mutations in their nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In a normal animal, the cobra’s venom binds to these receptors like a broken key in a lock, preventing nerve signals from getting through however in mongooses and ground squirrels, the lock is shaped differently.

The venom cannot bind effectively, allowing their nerves to continue functioning even if they are bitten.

They are highly resistant, but not 100% immune though. A large dose of venom from a big cobra can still be fatal, especially if it hits a vulnerable area.

For the mongoose, the cobra is a meal. They use lightning-fast reflexes and thick, wiry fur to avoid bites. They tire the snake out by dancing around it until they can deliver a crushing bite to the back of the snake's skull.

Squirrels usually fight to protect their burrows and young. They use a technique called mobbing, where several squirrels surround the cobra. They use their bushy tails as a decoy. They puff them up and wave them, tricking the cobra into striking at the hair rather than the squirrel's body.

These Cape ground squirrels can also use infrared signaling. They can increase blood flow to their tails to make them glow in the infrared spectrum.

This confuses snakes that hunt using heat-sensing pits, like vipers, though it is less effective against the Cape cobra, which relies more on vision.

Mob squirrel elements.

[William May]

Originally Posted by kellyhound ↗

Both animals have evolved specific mutations in their nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. In a normal animal, the cobra’s venom binds to these receptors like a broken key in a lock, preventing nerve signals from getting through however in mongooses and ground squirrels, the lock is shaped differently.

The venom cannot bind effectively, allowing their nerves to continue functioning even if they are bitten.

They are highly resistant, but not 100% immune though. A large dose of venom from a big cobra can still be fatal, especially if it hits a vulnerable area.

For the mongoose, the cobra is a meal. They use lightning-fast reflexes and thick, wiry fur to avoid bites. They tire the snake out by dancing around it until they can deliver a crushing bite to the back of the snake's skull.

Squirrels usually fight to protect their burrows and young. They use a technique called mobbing, where several squirrels surround the cobra. They use their bushy tails as a decoy. They puff them up and wave them, tricking the cobra into striking at the hair rather than the squirrel's body.

These Cape ground squirrels can also use infrared signaling. They can increase blood flow to their tails to make them glow in the infrared spectrum.

This confuses snakes that hunt using heat-sensing pits, like vipers, though it is less effective against the Cape cobra, which relies more on vision.

Mob squirrel elements.

THANK YOU! VERY INTERESTING! If I ever have to deal with a Cobra, I will be calling the Squirrel Elements!

[Mr.NoCredit]

That’s a really beautiful snake. Its color is gorgeous.

I’ve seen a video where a mongoose grabbed a full size cobra face on. It was so fast it bit down on the snakes face before it could even open its mouth. It locked its mouth shut with the bite and started shaking it vigorously. Incredible footage.

Cool post.

[LouSinew]

Reminds me of Rikki-Tikki-Tavi versus Nag from The Jungle Book.