Cobra Explained

Cobra should not be confused with Copra.

Cobra is the common name of various venomous snakes, most of which belong to the genus Naja.^[1]

Many cobras are capable of rearing upwards and producing a hood when threatened.

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^[2]
• The king cobra or hamadryad (Ophiophagus hannah)^[3]
• The two species of tree cobras, Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii) and the black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra)^[4]
• The two species of shield-nosed cobras, the Cape coral snake (Aspidelaps lubricus) and the shield-nosed cobra (Aspidelaps scutatus)^[4]
• 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^[4]
• The eastern coral snake or American cobra (Micrurus fulvius), which also does not rear upwards and produce a hood when threatened^[4]

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.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Cobra. 6. 613.
2. Book: Wolfgang Bücherl. Eleanor E. Buckley. Venancio Deulofeu. Venomous Animals and Their Venoms: Venomous Vertebrates. 17 September 2013. Elsevier. 978-1-4832-6363-2. 492.
3. Book: United States. Department of the Navy. Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Venomous Snakes of the World: A Manual for Use by U. S. Amphibious Forces. 2013. Skyhorse. 978-1-62087-623-7. 217.
4. Book: Mark O'Shea. Venomous Snakes of the World. 20 February 2008. New Holland. 978-1-84773-086-2. 74.