Naja kaouthia
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[Photo] Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia). Photo by http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/User:Green_Owl (License: public domain)

Monocled Cobra Naja kaouthia is a species of snake.

Diagnostic Characters: Body scales smooth, arranged in 19-21 (usually 21) longitudinal rows at mid-body; throat pale, scarcely any dark mottling, often followed by a single dark band, ventrolateral throat spots distinct; remainder of venter either pale or increasingly cloudy with darker pigmentation towards the rear; in adults, hood markings usually distinct, usually a pale, oval or circular marking, with a dark center and occasionally a narrow dark outer border; occasionally 1 or 2 dark spots are present in the pale oval; fangs not modified for spitting, venom discharge orifice large; ventrals 164-196; subcaudals 43-58. Total length 1500 mm; tail length 230 mm (according to Smith [1943:429] larger specimens have been recorded, but they are rare).

Distribution:Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma), Cambodia, NE India, Laos, N Malaysia, Nepal(?), S China, Thailand, S Vietnam.

Choto Pashla, West Bengal state has 1 snake for every 2 residents, mainly the poisonous monocled cobra, being found everywhere -- in rice fields, ditches, muddy ponds and houses (more than 3,000 snakes in this village of 6,000 people). Reptiles first came to the village 130 kilometres (80 miles) northwest of the state capital Kolkata en masse 6 centuries ago during a flood. The Hindu village worshipped the snakes as the representatives of a goddess.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naja_kaouthia

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