Scientific Name: Naja naza
Classification
Phylum: Chordata - Dorsal tubular nerve cord, notochord and gill slits present.
Subphylum: Vertebrata - Vertebral column present.
Superclass: Gnathostoma -Jaws and paired appendages present.
Class: Reptilia -Scaly vertebrates. Right and left aortic arches present. Single condyle. Pulmonary respiration. Embryo with amnion and allantois.
Subclass: Lepidosauria
Order: Squamata -Lizards and snakes with horny epidermal scales or shields. Quadrate bone movable. Vertebrae procoelous. Anal opening transverse.
Suborder: Ophidia -Snakes. Limbs, feet, ear openings sternum and urinary bladder absent. Mandibles jointed anteriorly by ligament. Tongue slender, bifid and protrusible. Left lung reduced.
Genus: Naja
Species: naza
Habit and habitat: Cobra is diurnal, shy, living in holes, under
stones, mud walls and in thick vegetation. It is oviparous,
carnivorous and feeds on frogs, rats, lizards and other snakes.
It hibernates.
Characteristics
- The body measures 2 to 3 metres in length and is wheatish
- (gehuwa) in colour. During hibernation the colour becomes golden but on exposure to light it changes to brown.
- The body divided into head, neck, trunk and tail. Head contains mouth, eyes and nostrils.
- The Neck region is dilatable with elongated ribs. It expands to form hood which contains binocellate mark on dorsal surface. Some persons call it figure of ten. There is a white band around mark.
- Third shield of upper labia or lip large and extending from ocular to nasal shield. bears eye and nasal shield bears opening of nostril. Eyes with narrow pupils.
- A tiny wedge-shield on the undersurface of the 4th and 5th lower labials.
Videos
References
- Wikipedia
- The life of invertebrates by J.Z Young
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