Re. 41. NAJA NAJA
Phylum : Chordata
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Family :
Elapidae
Genus : Naja
Species :
N.naja
DESCRIPTION
The Indian cobra (Naja naja), also known commonly as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, or binocellate cobra, is a species of cobra, a venomous snake in the family Elapidea. The species is native to Indian Subcontinent and is a member of the" big four" species that are responsible for the most snakebite cases in India. It is distinct from the King cobra which belongs to the monotypic genus Ophiophagus. The Indian cobra is revered in Hindu mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers. It is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).
The Indian cobra is native to the Indian subcontinent and
can be found throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and
southern Nepal. In India,
it may or may not occur in the state of
Assam, some parts of Kashmir, and it does not occur in high altitudes of
over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and in extreme desert regions. In Pakistan,
it is absent in most of Balochistan province, parts
of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, desert
areas elsewhere and the Northern Areas. The most westerly record
comes from Duki, Balochistan in Pakistan, while the most easterly record is
from the Tangail
District in Bangladesh. As this species has been observed in
Drosh, in the Chitral
Valley, it may also occur in the Kabul River Valley in extreme
eastern Afghanistan. There's
been at least one report of this species occurring in Bhutan.
Indian cobras are oviparous and
lay their eggs between
the months of April and July. The female snake usually lays between 10 and 30
eggs in rat holes or termite mounds and the eggs hatch 48 to 69 days later. The
hatchlings measure between 20 and 30 centimetres (8 and 12 in) in length.
The hatchlings are independent from birth and have fully functional venom
glands.
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