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Family : ELAPIDAE
Species : Naja kaouthia
Maximum Size : 2.3 metres
Naja kaouthia
(Monocled Cobra or Monocellate Cobra) inhabits many parts of mainland
Southeast Asia and beyond. It occurs in a variety of habitats including
lowland and hill forest to around 800 metres, plantations, grasslands and
agricultural areas such as rice paddies. It is terrestrial and, reportedly,
is most active at dusk.
Its colour is highly variable, ranging from yellowish to brownish to black.
In all cases there is a single, pale eye marking on the back of the hood
('monocellate' means 'single eye'). Narrow bands may be present across the
back. The throat is pale in colour, sometimes with paired dark blotches.
Its diet includes a variety of small vertebrates such as rodents, fish and
frogs.
This snake is a favourite of traditional snake-charmers, as it readily
spreads its hood; released or escaped examples may occur in some places.
Like its cousin, the Equatorial
Spitting Cobra, the Monocled Cobra is able to spit venom from its modified
fangs, although this defence mechanism has only been reported from populations in
West Bengal, India (Santra & Wüster, 2017). In Thailand, this species causes
the highest number of deaths by snakebite (Pratanaphon et al, 1997).
Naja kaouthia ranges from northeastern India, Nepal and Bhutan through
Bangladesh, southernmost China, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and southern
Vietnam to northern Peninsular Malaysia (including Penang Island).
In Peninsular Malaysia, roadkill examples have been found as far south as 3
kilometres south of The Gap (Semangkok Pass) at an elevation of 800 metres,
near Fraser's Hill (Leong & Güttensohn, 2018).
Figs 1 and 2 : Monocled Cobra in a roadside drain in the grounds of an
apartment block at the base of Penang Hill; the snake would have emerged
from nearby hill forest. Photos thanks to Graeme Guy.
Fig 3 : Hill forest on Penang Island extends to the boundary of
high-rise apartment blocks.
Fig 4 : Roadkill example, with an estimated total length of 100 cm,
from near The Gap (Semangkok Pass), Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia,
elevation 800 metres. The area is dominated by primary hill forest.
References :
Das, I., 2010. A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-east Asia. New
Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.
Leong, T. M. & Güttensohn, T. T. (2018). Two roadkill records of
Monocled Cobra Naja kaouthia from Peninsular Malaysia. Southeast
Asia Vertebrate Records. 2017 : 003-005. [pdf]
Pratanaphon, R., Akesowan, S., Khow, O., Sriprapat, S.,
Ratanabanangkoon, K. (1997). Production of highly potent horse antivenom
against the Thai cobra (Naja kaouthia). Vaccine. 15 (14):
1523–1528.
Santra, Vishal, Wüster, Wolfgang (2017). Naja kaouthia
behavior/spitting. Herpetological Review. 48 (2): 455.
Links :
Reptile Database
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