Forest cobra

Forest cobra
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Subphylum:	Vertebrata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Naja
Species:	N. melanoleuca
Binomial name
Naja melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857
Forest cobra distribution in green
Synonyms
Naja haje var. melanoleuca Hallowell, 1857 Naja annulata Buchholz & W. Peters, 1876 Aspidelaps bocagii Sauvage, 1884 Naja haje var. leucosticta Fischer, 1885 Naia melanoleuca — Boulenger, 1896 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

The forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), also commonly called the black cobra and the black and white-lipped cobra, is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to Africa, mostly the central and western parts of the continent. It is the largest true cobra species with a total length (including tail) of up to 3.1 meters (10 feet). 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. This species is alert, nervous and is considered to be a very dangerous snake. When cornered or molested, it will assume the typical cobra warning posture by raising its fore body off the ground, spreading a narrow hood, and hissing loudly. Bites to humans are less common than from other African cobras due to various factors, though a bite from this species is a life-threatening emergency.

The forest cobra is classified in the genus Naja of the family Elapidae. Naja melanoleuca was first described by American herpetologist Edward Hallowell in 1857. The generic name Naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet melanoleuca is Ancient Greek and means "of black and white". The word melano is Greek for "black", while leuca comes from the Ancient Greek word for "white". This species is also known as the black cobra and black and white-lipped cobra.

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