Dreamweaver in a Nutshell

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The animal on the cover of Dreamweaver in a Nutshell is a cobra. Cobras are members of the endangered Elapidae family, which includes the king, Asian, and spitting cobras and the asp. Cobras are known for their aggressive behavior, deadly venom, and the hood that appears when the cobra is in a striking position. The hood itself is attached to a set of ribs that extends behind the cobra’s head. With a habitat ranging from Africa to South Asia, the Philippines, and Indonesia, cobras generally live near streams, forests, bamboo thickets, agricultural areas, and mangrove swamps.

The king cobra, a native of South Asia, is the largest species, ranging from 10 to 18 feet long. This cobra usually feeds on other types of reptiles, including pythons, and is more aggressive than most other cobras. The king cobra female lays up to 40 eggs and makes a nest for her young out of leaves and branches. Though most cobras rarely attack if left alone, the king cobra female attacks with little provocation if she feels that her eggs are threatened. The Asian cobra, found mostly in India and Pakistan, is valued for eating rodents that feed on crops. It is also used by snake charmers for entertainment. The cobra doesn’t actually respond to music, but follows ...