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Forest Cobra

The forest cobra is a large, extremely venomous species of snake found in Africa. The species is world’s largest true cobra species. The snake is terrestrial but, is a good climber as well. It is fast-moving and swift and is an adept swimmer.

Scientific Classification
Quick Information

Kingdom	Animalia
Phylum	Chordata
Class	Reptilia
Order	Squamata
Suborder	Serpentes
Family	Elapidae
Genus	Naja
Scientific Name	Naja melanoleuca

Other Names	Black Cobra, Black and White-lipped Cobra
Length	Around 1.4 to 2.2 m, but may reach 2.7 to 3.1 m
Color	Consists of three color variations: Some are shiny black with cream or white chin, throat and anterior part of the belly with large black patches and cross-bars, black and white markings on the sides of the head; some specimens contain black and yellow bands with black tail, top of the head is brownish-yellow with yellow lips, chin and throat; some other members have brownish or blackish-brown upper part with pale lower parts, yellow or cream belly with profuse brown or black patches; full black (melanistic) specimens have also been recorded
Distribution	Senegal, Guinea-Bissau, southeastern Mali, Guinea, Liberia, Sierra Leone (western Africa); Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic(central Africa); western Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda, (eastern Africa); few parts in southern Africa
Habitat	Savanna and grassland, tropical and subtropical rainforests, mangroves
Diet	Amphibians, fish, other snakes, lizards, bird eggs, rodents, small mammals
Predators	Other snakes
Venom Fact	Neurotoxic
Mode of Reproduction	Oviparous (egg laying)
Clutch Size	11 to 26
Incubation Period	55 to 70 days
Average Lifespan	Around 20 years; one specimen lived for 28 years in captivity