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Physical description[edit]

Colouration and pattern[edit]

Spectacle pattern on a snake's hood.

The Indian cobra varies tremendously in colour and pattern throughout its range. The ventral scales or the underside colouration of this species can be grey, yellow, tan, brown, reddish or black. Dorsal scales of the Indian cobra may have a hood mark or colour patterns. The most common visible pattern is a posteriorly convex light band at the level of the 20th to 25th ventrals. Salt-and-pepper speckles, especially in adult specimens, are seen on the dorsal scales. Specimens, particularly those found in Sri Lanka may exhibit poorly defined banding on the dorsum. Ontogenetic colour change is frequently observed in specimens in the north-western parts of their geographic range (southern Pakistan and north-western India). In southern Pakistan, juvenile specimens may be grey in colour and may or may not have a hood mark. Adults on the other hand are typically uniformly black in colour on top (melanistic), while the underside, outside the throat region, is usually light. Patterns on the throat and ventral scales are also variable in this species. The majority of specimens exhibit a light throat area followed by dark banding, which can be 4-7 ventral scales wide. Adult specimens also often exhibit a significant amount of mottling on the the throat and on the venter, which makes patterns on this species less clear relative to patterns seen in other species of cobra. With the exception of specimens from the north-west, there is often a pair of lateral spots on the throat where the ventral and dorsal scales meet. The positioning of these spots varies, with nort-western specimens having the spots positioned more anterior, while specimens from elsewhere in their range are more posterior. Many specimens exhibit a hood mark. This hood mark is located at the rear of the Indian cobra's hood. When the hood mark is present, are two circular ocelli patterns connected by a curved line, evoking the image of spectacles.[1]

Appearance and size[edit]

The Indian cobra is a moderately sized, heavy bodied species. This cobra species can easily be identified by its relatively large and quite impressive hood, which it expands when threatened. This species has a head which is elliptical, depressed, and very slightly distinct from neck. The snout is short and rounded with large nostrils. The eyes are medium in size and the pupils are round.[2] The majority of adult specimens range from 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length. Some specimens, particularly those from Sri Lanka, may grow to lengths of 2.1 to 2.2 metres (6.9 to 7.2 ft), but this is relatively uncommon.[1]

An additional line is seen above the spectacle in this cobra. This is just one of the many different patterns that can be found on a cobra.

Scalation[edit]

Dorsal scales are smooth and strongly oblique. Midbody scales are in 23 rows (21-25), with 171-197 ventrals. There are 48-75 divided subcaudals and the anal shield is single. There are 7 upper labials (3rd the largest and in contact with nasal anteriorly, 3rd and 4th in contact with eye) and 9-10 lower labials (small angular cuneate scale present between 4th and 5th lower labial), as well as 1 preocular in contact with internasals, and 3 postoculars. Temporals are 2 + 3.[2]


Distribution and habitat[edit]

Geographic range[edit]

Indian cobra in its habitat

The Indian cobra is native to the Indian subcontinent and can be found throughout India (with the possible exception of the state of Assam) in much of Pakistan with exception to certain regions, such as in most of Balochistan province, parts of North-West Frontier Province, and desert areas elswhere.

It can be found in plains, jungles, open fields and the regions heavily populated by people. Its distribution ranges from sea-level up to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) above sea-level.[3] This species normally feed on rodents, toads, frogs, birds and other snakes. Its diet of rats leads it to areas inhabited by humans including farms and outskirts of urban areas.

{{[[Template:automatic taxobox |automatic taxobox ]]}} The Anchieta's cobra (Naja anchietae), also called the Angolan cobra is a species of cobra in the Elapidae family; it is native to the southern regions of Africa.

Etymology[edit]

The generic name Naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग) meaning "cobra". The specific epithet anchietae refers to José de Anchieta, a Portuguese explorer of Africa.[4]

Taxonomy[edit]

The Anchieta's cobra was first described by Portuguese zoologist José Vicente Barbosa du Bocage in 1879.[5] The Anchieta's cobra (N. haje anchietae), along with the Snouted cobra (N. haje annulifera), were historically believed to be subspecies of the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje) that occupied the southern regions of Africa. Based on analysis of character morphology, Broadley (1995) was able to erect Naja annulifera to species level, with Naja annulifera anchietae as a subspecies. More research by Broadley & Wüster (2004) using both analysis of morphology character and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) further confirmed that Naja annulifera was a distinct species, but data obtained also erected Naja anchietae to species level. Further research by Wallach et al (2009), placed the Egyptian cobra (N. haje) complex (African non-spitting cobras) into the subgenus Uraeus. The group is distinguished from all other cobras due to the presence of a row of subocular scales separating the eye from the supralabials. Although the Cape cobra (Naja nivea) lacks this feature, it too was placed within the same subgenus Uraeus.[6] The below cladogram illustrates the taxonomy and relationships among species of Naja:[7]

Naja

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b Wüster, W. (1998). "The Cobras of the genus Naja in India" (PDF). Hamadryad. 23 (1): 15–32. Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  2. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference ct was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference Whitaker & Captain was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference database was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Bocage,J.V.B. du 1879. Reptiles et batraciens nouveaux d'Angola. J. Acad. Sci. Lisbon 7: 97-99
  6. ^ Trape, J.F.; Chirio, L.; Broadley, D.G.; Wüster, W. (21 September 2009). "Phylogeography and systematic r evision of the Egyptian cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja haj e ) species complex, with the description of a new species from West Africa" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2236: 1–25. ISSN 1175-5334. Retrieved 29 August 2014.
  7. ^ Wallach, V.; Wüster, W.; Broadley DG. (2009). "In praise of subgenera: taxonomic status of cobras of the genus Naja Laurenti (Serpentes: Elapidae)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2236: 26–36. Retrieved 29 August 2014.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)


References[edit]

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