Naja atra
(Chinese cobra)

Scientific classification

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: N. atra
Binomial name
Naja atra
Cantor, 1842
Synonyms
Naja nigra Gray

The Chinese Cobra (Naja atra) or the Taiwan Cobra is a type of cobra species found in China and some other Asian countries. It is one of the most common and famous Chinese venomous snakes. The Chinese Cobra has potent venom and has caused many snake bite cases.

Contents
1 Characteristics
1.1 Scalation
1.2 Identification
2 Distribution
3 Behavior
4 Reproduction
5 vEnOm

Characteristics

This medium snake, usually 1.2-1.5 m long, reaches a maximum length of 1.94 m (male) and 1.64 m (female). Large specimens of 2.3 m in length have been reported . The dorsal color of the Chinese Cobra is usually brown, grey or black, with or without narrow, light transverse lines at irregular intervals which are especially prominent in juveniles. The hood mark shape of the snake is highly variable: spectacle, mask, horseshoe or O-shape;sometimes linking to light throat area. It has clearly defined throat area usually with a black transverse band and 2 black spots above the band.

Scalation

23-29 scale rows around hood (usually 25-27) ; 19-21 just ahead mid-body(usually 21); ventral scales 161-180(usually 171 in males, 173 in females); subcaudal scales 37-51 pairs (usually 48 in males, 46 in females).

Identification

The Chinese Cobra is easily confused with the Monocled Cobra (Naja kaouthia). But it is most easily distinguished by virtue of having lower ventral and subcaudal scale counts, particular when sex is taken into account.

Distribution

This species is found in the southeastern China, including Hong Kong, Hainan and Taiwan, northern Laos and northern Vietnam.It inhabits in different kinds of land habitats such as woodlands, shrublands, grasslands and mangroves often hiding beneath objects.

Behavior

The Chinese Cobra has a characteristic defensive behavior. When threatened, this snake rises one third of the fore body, hissing loudly and the characteristic hood on the neck is expanded. The Chinese Cobra usually escapes to avoid confrontation with humans. However, strikes are readily if provoked. The Chinese Cobra mainly preys on rodents, frogs, toads and other snakes. It is active during both the day and night.

Reproduction

It is Oviparous.

vEnOm

The Chinese Cobra is highly venomous. Its venom consists mainly of cobratoxin (neurotoxin), hemotoxin and cardiotoxin. The LD50 is 0.53 mg/kg to mice. The average venom yield from this snake is about 250.8 mg and it is enough to kill 10 people. Some individuals (mostly the specimens from Guizhou Province) might spit venom towards the enemy with a distance of two meters. Local symptoms of victims caused by Chinese cobra are: wound darkening, localized redness and swelling, pain, insensibility, and always accompanied by blisters and necrosis. Necrosis is a serious problem in case of bites by cobra as it may last a long period of many years after recovery of the victim. The following systemic symptoms may occur: chest uncomfortable, fever, sore-throat, difficulty in swallowing, loss of voice, weak feeling in limbs, walking haltingly, general ache, lockjaw, and difficult breathing. Fatality occasionally occurs. The anti-venom is widely available nowadays and deaths are being much rare.