Indian cobra

Naja naja · The Indian cobra is a venomous snake with a big hood that lives across the Indian subcontinent, including India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and southern Nepal.

Also called Spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, Binocellate cobra.

Indian cobra
Photo: Jerzy Strzelecki, CC BY 3.0
Indian cobra
Photo: Pavan Kumar N, CC BY-SA 3.0
Indian cobra
Photo: Aravind, CC BY-SA 4.0

Taxonomy

KingdomAnimalia
PhylumChordata
ClassReptilia
OrderSquamata
FamilyElapidae
GenusNaja
SpeciesNaja naja

Where it lives

Plains and farmland across the subcontinent, from Pakistan to Sri Lanka.

Fun facts

  • The pattern on the back of its hood looks like a pair of spectacles, made of two circular rings joined by a curved line.
  • Snake charmers' cobras aren't dancing to the music: the snake can't hear airborne sounds and just follows the movements of the charmer's instrument.
  • Adult cobras in southern Pakistan are typically black on top, even though the young may be grey.
  • Baby Indian cobras are independent from the moment they hatch and already have fully working venom glands.

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Facts and taxonomy adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).