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Description
Common Name: Burrowing Cobra

Scientific Name: Subterranaja parvioculis

Length: 2.4 to 3.3 meters from head to tail

Weight: 4.5 to 9 kilograms

Diet: Small lizards, ground-dwelling birds, and burrowing mammals

Distribution: The dry grasslands and dunes of the New Sahara Desert in Africa

Lifespan: 10 to 20 years

Description: Many animals of the New Sahara Desert developed burrowing adaptations to escape the hot sun. Since most animals rest in underground dens, it is no surprise that some creatures are fossorial. Being fossorial allows animals to escape predators and to maintain a comfortable body temperature. However, there isn’t a complete lack of predators in their underground environments. One of the most successful fossorial predators is the burrowing cobra.
The burrowing cobra is a venomous burrowing snake that feasts on many creatures that live underground. These snakes have poor eyesight due to them living in the dark most of its life. They sense their environment by using their tongue to taste the environment which allows them to find food. They have a shovel-like nose to dig up sand to make their burrows and access the tunnels of prey. The venom of these snakes is less toxic than its extinct relative, the king cobra, but it can still kill a human in 3 hours. They use this toxin to kill their prey quickly so that the struggle isn’t harmful to the snake. Finally, the hood of this snake is a defensive tactic to intimidate predators.
Most snakes are ambush predators, but these snakes are active predators. Once a snake notices a prey animal, the snake will chase after it through the tunnels. The cobra uses its ability to feel vibrations and sense of smell to keep up with prey. The cobras chase their food until one of them tires. If the prey is exhausted, the cobra will bite down on the prey and release its venom. After the prey dies of the toxin, the snake eats the prey whole. This meal can last a month if it needs to.

Description
Common Name: Burrowing Cobra

Scientific Name: Subterranaja parvioculis

Length: 2.4 to 3.3 meters from head to tail

Weight: 4.5 to 9 kilograms

Diet: Small lizards, ground-dwelling birds, and burrowing mammals

Distribution: The dry grasslands and dunes of the New Sahara Desert in Africa

Lifespan: 10 to 20 years

Description: Many animals of the New Sahara Desert developed burrowing adaptations to escape the hot sun. Since most animals rest in underground dens, it is no surprise that some creatures are fossorial. Being fossorial allows animals to escape predators and to maintain a comfortable body temperature. However, there isn’t a complete lack of predators in their underground environments. One of the most successful fossorial predators is the burrowing cobra.
The burrowing cobra is a venomous burrowing snake that feasts on many creatures that live underground. These snakes have poor eyesight due to them living in the dark most of its life. They sense their environment by using their tongue to taste the environment which allows them to find food. They have a shovel-like nose to dig up sand to make their burrows and access the tunnels of prey. The venom of these snakes is less toxic than its extinct relative, the king cobra, but it can still kill a human in 3 hours. They use this toxin to kill their prey quickly so that the struggle isn’t harmful to the snake. Finally, the hood of this snake is a defensive tactic to intimidate predators.
Most snakes are ambush predators, but these snakes are active predators. Once a snake notices a prey animal, the snake will chase after it through the tunnels. The cobra uses its ability to feel vibrations and sense of smell to keep up with prey. The cobras chase their food until one of them tires. If the prey is exhausted, the cobra will bite down on the prey and release its venom. After the prey dies of the toxin, the snake eats the prey whole. This meal can last a month if it needs to.