The sighting of Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia) in Kerala and its documentation have possibly opened up a new page in Natural History. I may not repeat what I have already written in the '....Reptiles .....' column. The snake's ID, habitat, behaviour are different from those of Common Cobra (Naja Naja). Monocled is found in the East, NE, Gangetic basin of our country but in no book I could find any mention about its presence in Kerala. That makes your finding so historic an event.
Monocled Cobra's assult on and consumption of Russell's Viper are fine achievement but would come second, in my view. Looking at this snake's liking for water, fishes and smaller snakes; most likely with faster speed it had caught the Russell's Viper by head and in the paddy-field it was no match.
Thanks for sharing.SaktiWild
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