forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) Description
Русский: Чёрно-белая кобра (Naja melanoleuca)
Date 30 March 2002
Source http://zoltantakacs.com/zt/pw/sn/album.php?idx=17
Author Dr. Zoltan Takacs
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Forest_cobra_(Naja_melanoleuca),_Kakamega_Forest,_Kenya.jpg
The forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), also called the black cobra and black and white-lipped cobra, is an elapid native to Africa, mostly the central and western parts of the continent. It is the largest true cobra species with a length up to 3.1 meters. Although it prefers lowland forest and moist savanna habitats, this cobra is highly adaptable and can be found in drier climates within its geographical range. It is a very capable swimmer and is often considered to be semi-aquatic. The forest cobra is a generalist in its feeding habits, having a highly varied diet: anything from large insects to small mammals and other reptiles. Order: Squamata, Suborder: Serpentes, Family: Elapidae.
Synonyms:
Naja haje var. melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857
Naja annulata Buchholz & Peters, 1876
Aspidelaps bocagii Sauvage, 1884
Naja haje var. leucosticta Fischer, 1885
Naia melanoleuca Boulenger, 1896 (lapsus calami)
Naja leucostica Bethencourt-Ferreira, 1930
Naja melanoleuca subfulva Laurent, 1955
Naja melanoleuca melanoleuca Capocaccia, 1961
Naja melanoleuca subfulva Broadley, 1962
Naja melanoleuca aurata Stucki-Stirn, 1979
Naja subfulva Chirio, 2006
Naja melanoleuca subfulva Chirio & Lebreton, 2007
Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca Wallach, 2009