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Naja naja

Indian cobra
Indiancobra.jpg
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: N. naja
Binomial name
Naja naja
(Linnaeus, 1758)
Map of South Asia showing highlighted range covering almost all of India and portions of adjoining countries
Indian cobra distribution
Synonyms
  • Coluber naja Linnaeus, 1758
  • Naja brasiliensis Laurenti, 1768
  • Naja fasciata Laurenti, 1768
  • Naja lutescens Laurenti, 1768
  • Naja maculata Laurenti, 1768
  • Naja non-najaLaurenti, 1768
  • Coluber caecus GMELIN, 1788
  • Coluber rufus GMELIN, 1788
  • Coluber Naja Shaw & Nodder, 1791
  • Coluber Naja Shaw & Nodder, 1794
  • Naja tripudians Merrem, 1820
  • Naja nigra Gray, 1830
  • Naja tripudians forma typica Boulenger, 1896
  • Naja tripudians var. caeca Boulenger, 1896
  • Naja naja naja Smith, 1943
  • Naja naja gangetica Deraniyagala, 1945
  • Naja naja lutescens Deraniyagala, 1945
  • Naja naja madrasiensis Deraniyagala, 1945
  • Naja naja indusi Deraniyagala, 1960
  • Naja naja bombaya Deraniyagala, 1961
  • Naja naja karachiensis Deraniyagala, 1961
  • Naja naja ceylonicus Chatman & Di Mari, 1974
  • Naja naja polyocellata Mehrtens, 1987
  • Naja ceylonicus Osorio E Castro & Vernon, 1989
  • Naja (Naja) najaWallach, 2009

The Indian cobra (Naja naja) also known as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra or binocellate cobra is a species of the genus Naja found in the Indian subcontinent (India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal) and a member of the "big four" species that inflict the most snakebites on humans in India. This snake is revered in Indian mythology and culture, and is often seen with snake charmers. It is now protected in India under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972).

Naja naja was first described by Swedish physician, zoologist, and botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name and the specific epithet naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá () meaning "cobra".

The Indian cobra or spectacled cobra, being common in South Asia, is referred to by a number of local names deriving from the root of Nag (नाग) (Hindi, Oriya, Marathi), Moorkhan, മൂര്‍ഖന്‍ (Malayalam), Naya-නයා (Sinhalese), నాగు పాము (Nagu Paamu) (Telugu), ನಾಗರ ಹಾವು Nagara Haavu (Kannada),Naga Pambu or Nalla pambu (நாகப் பாம்பு/நல்ல பாம்பு) (Tamil) "Phetigom" (Assamese) and Gokhra (গোখরো) (Bengali).


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