The Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera) is a large brown snake of the savanna of southeast Africa. Its glands produce venom with powerful neurotoxins, which cause death from respiratory failure. However, it is not as aggressive as other cobras. It is nocturnal, coming out at dusk to pray on rodents and other small animals.
Physical Characteristics
The Snouted Cobra is light brown in color, but it goes through a banded phase, in which it is black, with yellowish cream bands. A distinctive dark throat can be observed in juveniles. The scales are smooth, with 19 rows at mid body and the ventral side has 175 rows. The head is broad, and the eye pupils are round. It is characterized by having a row of scales between the eye and upper labials.
The female of the Naja annulifera lays 20 eggs in Summer. When it feels threatened, it spreads its broad hood and is always ready to bite. However, it does not spit, as other species do. It inhabits the dry and moist savanna of south and southeast Africa and the woodland, between sea level and the 1,600 m of altitude.
Below, the Snouted Cobra, in its banded phase.
The adult of the Naja annulifera, which is yellowish brown in color.
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