Zoology Museum

Post Graduates and Research Department of Zoology, V.O. Chidambaram College, Tuticorin 628 008 Tamil Nadu

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 cobraAsian 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 IndiaPakistanSri LankaBangladesh, 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.

IUCN Status: Least concern

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