Back Boskobra Afrikaans ناشر الغابات Arabic كوبرا بلقاء ARZ ফরেস্ট কোবরা Bengali/Bangla Naja melanoleuca Catalan Naja melanoleuca CEB Kobra černá Czech Skovkobra Danish Schwarzweiße Hutschlange German Dzakpata EE

Forest cobra

Forest cobra
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Subgenus: Boulengerina
Species:
N. melanoleuca
Binomial name
Naja melanoleuca
Forest cobra distribution in green
Synonyms[2]
  • Naja haje var. melanoleuca
    Hallowell, 1857
  • Naja annulata
    Buchholz & W. Peters, 1876
  • Aspidelaps bocagii
    Sauvage, 1884
  • Naja haje var. leucosticta
    Fischer, 1885
  • Naia melanoleuca
    — Boulenger, 1896
  • Naja leucostica
    — Bethencourt-Ferreira, 1930
  • Naja melanoleuca subfulva
    Laurent, 1955
  • Naja melanoleuca melanoleuca
    — Capocaccia, 1961
  • Naja melanoleuca subfulva
    — Broadley, 1962
  • Naja melanoleuca aurata
    Stucki-Stirn, 1979
  • Naja subfulva
    — Chirio, 2006
  • Naja melanoleuca subfulva
    — Chirio & Lebreton, 2007
  • Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca
    — Wallach, 2009

The forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), also commonly called the black cobra and the black and white-lipped cobra,[4] is a species of highly venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Africa, mostly the central and western parts of the continent.[5] It is the largest true cobra species with a record length of 3.2 metres (10 feet 6 inches).[6][7]

Although it prefers lowland forest and moist savanna habitats, this cobra is highly adaptable and can be found in drier climates within its geographical range. It is a very capable swimmer and is often considered to be semi-aquatic.[8] The forest cobra is a generalist in its feeding habits, having a highly varied diet: anything from large insects to small mammals and other reptiles.[4] This species is alert, nervous and is considered to be a medically significant snake.[8][9] When cornered or molested, it will assume the typical cobra warning posture by raising its fore body off the ground, spreading a narrow hood, and hissing loudly. Bites to humans are less common than from other African cobras due to various factors, though a bite from this species is a life-threatening emergency.[10]

  1. ^ Jallow, M., Penner, J., Rödel, M.-O., Luiselli, L., Chippaux, J.-P., Gonwouo, N.L., Kusamba, C. & Zassi-Boulou, A.-G. 2021. Naja melanoleuca. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021: e.T13265900A13265907. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T13265900A13265907.en. Downloaded on 12 August 2021.
  2. ^ a b "Naja melanoleuca". Encyclopedia of Life. Retrieved 22 March 2014.
  3. ^ "Naja melanoleuca". Integrated Taxonomic Information System. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference nm was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference Mattison was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Chippaux, JP; Jackson, K (18 June 2019). Snakes of Central and Western Africa (1 ed.). Johns Hopkins University Press. p. 128. ISBN 978-1421427195.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference Burton was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Oshea was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference Snakes was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference Davidson was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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