Cobra is the common name of various 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"
While the members of the genus Naja constitute the true cobras, the name cobra is also applied to these other genera and species:
- 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]Template:Rp
- 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]Template:Rp
- The eastern coral snake or American cobra (Micrurus fulvius), which also does not rear upwards and produce a hood when threatened[5]Template:Rp
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]Template:Rp
References
- ↑ Template:Cite EB1911
- ↑ Two kinds of non-venomous snake, the hognose snakes and the striped keelback, also rear upwards and produce hoods but are not considered "cobras"; likewise, some venomous elapid snakes, such as the black mamba, are also capable of producing hoods but are not called "cobras".
- ↑ Venomous Animals and Their Venoms: Venomous Vertebrates{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Elsevier(17 September 2013). ISBN 978-1-4832-6363-2
- ↑ Venomous Snakes of the World: A Manual for Use by U. S. Amphibious Forces{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. Skyhorse(2013). ISBN 978-1-62087-623-7
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 Venomous Snakes of the World{{#if:|, {{{last}}}}. New Holland(20 February 2008). ISBN 978-1-84773-086-2Template:Dead link