Scientists solve mystery of cobra

solve the puzzle of the mechanism of neck widening of cobras, which is usually shown this type of snake to defend itself. By measuring the electrical activity of muscles, the experts found that the muscle groups used by snakes cobra to raise and widen the neck. "This is one defensive action puzzles in biology," said Kenneth Kardong, Washington State University professor who participated in this study.

He explained to widen the neck, cobra ribs and muscles exert. "We want to know how to take advantage of cobra ribs, so the head and neck to be thin and wide," says Kardong.

eight muscles

To answer this question, the researchers measured the electrical activity of all muscles in the neck of a cobra. Measurements carried out by planting some mini electrodes to the neck muscles cobras.
Bruce Young of the University of Massachusetts Lowell who took part in the study, said electrodes of this graft surgery is the most dangerous stage. "This operation is performed in the head, and this snake at any time could come out of anesthesia," says Young.

Once the operation is complete, the cobra is removed and all activities of the muscles in the neck can be monitored. Experts later found the eight muscles used to thin and dilate cobra neck.

Young said the cobras are not the only kinds of snakes that use this mechanism to defend itself.