Cobra is the common name of various elapid snakes, most of which belong to the genus Naja.[1]
Biology
All of the known cobras are venomous and many are capable of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened.[2]
Other snakes known as "cobras"
All members of the genus Naja, the "true" cobras, can rear upwards and produce hoods when threatened.
Other "cobra" genera and species are as follows:
- The rinkhals, ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra (Hemachatus haemachatus) so-called for its neck band as well as its habit of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened[3]
- The king cobra or hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah)[4]
- The two species of tree cobras, Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii) and the black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra)[5]
- The two species of shield-nosed cobras, the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus) and the shield-nosed cobra (Aspidelaps scutatus)[5]:p.76
- The two species of black desert cobras or desert black snakes, Walterinnesia aegyptia and Walterinnesia morgani, neither of which rears upwards and produces a hood when threatened[5]:p.65
- The eastern coral snake or American cobra (Micrurus fulvius), which also does not rear upwards and produce a hood when threatened[5]:p.30
The false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) is the only "cobra" species that is not a member of the Elapidae. It does not rear upwards, produces only a slight flattening of the neck when threatened, and is only mildly venomous.[5]:p.53
References
- ^Cobra is the common name of various elapid snakes, most of which belong to the genus Naja.[1]
Biology
All of the known cobras are venomous and many are capable of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened.[2]
Other snakes known as "cobras"
All members of the genus Naja, the "true" cobras, can rear upwards and produce hoods when threatened.
Other "cobra" genera and species are as follows:
- The rinkhals, ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra (Hemachatus haemachatus) so-called for its neck band as well as its habit of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened[3]
- The king cobra or hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah)[4]
- The two species of tree cobras, Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii) and the black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra)[5]
- The two species of shield-nosed cobras, the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus) and the shield-nosed cobra (Aspidelaps scutatus)[5]:p.76
- The two species of black desert cobras or desert black snakes, Walterinnesia aegyptia and Walterinnesia morgani, neither of which rears upwards and produces a hood when threatened[2]
All members of the genus Naja, the "true" cobras, can rear upwards and produce hoods when threatened.
Other "cobra" genera and species are as follows:
- The rinkhals, ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra (Hemac
Other "cobra" genera and species are as follows:
The false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas) is the only "cobra" species that is not a member of the Elapidae. It does not rear upwards, produces only a slight flattening of the neck when threatened, and is only mildly venomous.[5]:p.53
References
- ^ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). . Encyclopædia Britannica. 6 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 613.
- The rinkhals, ringhals or ring-necked spitting cobra (Hemac