What is false water cobra?

The false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) is a large, highly venomous species of rear-fanged snake native to South America. Despite its common name, the false water cobra is not a true cobra and is not closely related to them.

These snakes are typically found in wetland habitats, such as swamps, marshes, and flooded forests, where they feed on a diet of fish, frogs, and small mammals. They are also known to be excellent climbers and swimmers.

The false water cobra is known for its defensive behavior of flattening its neck and hissing loudly when threatened, resembling the behavior of true cobras. They have large fangs located towards the rear of their mouth, which are used to deliver venom to their prey.

Although their venom is toxic, bites from false water cobras are not usually life-threatening to humans, but can still cause significant pain and swelling. Like all snakes, they play an important role in their ecosystem by controlling populations of prey species.

In captivity, false water cobras are popular among reptile enthusiasts for their impressive size, striking appearance, and interesting behavior. However, they require specialized care due to their venomous nature, making them a challenging species to keep for beginners.