Monocled Cobra is a species of Cobra found in many south-east Asian countries. India's north-east and Odisha regions are known for its wide distribution where it is found commonly. This snake is one of the most common causes of death by venomous snake bites in its range and during the monsoon period cases increase to notable limits around agricultural lands and rural areas. It can be identified easily only if it shows hood which bears a rounded or mask shaped hood mark. Otherwise. with its wide range of colorations and banded forms, it looks similar to the Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa) and Checkered Keelback (Xenochrophis piscator) with which it is commonly confused.
Naja kaouthia Lesson, 1831
synonym | Naia tripudians Boulenger, 1896 |
synonym | Naia tripudians var. fasciata Boulenger 1896 |
synonym | Naia tripudians var. fasciata Hardwicke & Gray 1835 |
synonym | Naja (Naja) kaouthia Wallach et al. 2009 |
synonym | Naja kaouthia Cox et al. 1998 |
synonym | Naja kaouthia kaouthia Deraniyagala 1960 |
synonym | Naja kaouthia Manthey & Grossmann 1997 |
synonym | Naja kaouthia suphanensis Nutaphand 1986 |
synonym | Naja kaouthia Wallach et al. 2014 |
synonym | Naja kauthia Pradhan et al. 2014 (in error) |
synonym | Naja naja Bourret, 1937 |
synonym | Naja naja kaouthia Golay 1985 |
synonym | Naja naja kaouthia Harding & Welch 1980 |
synonym | Naja naja kaouthia Sharma 2004 |
synonym | Naja naja kaouthia Smith 1940 |
synonym | Naja naja sputatrix Bourret 1937 |
synonym | Naja tripudians Gray, 1830 |
synonym | Naja tripudians var. fasciata Gray 1830 |
Assamese |
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English |
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Reptile group
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Attributions | Curated from The Reptile Database |
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Reproductive mode (Reptiles)
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It is assumed to capable in reproducing most of the year depending upon geographical area. Mating occurs during winter months to summer. Female lays up to 18 eggs in dry mounds, caves, holes etc. New born seen from Summer to most of the monsoon.
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Rat Snake (Ptyas mucosa)
King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah)
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Monocled Cobra is a crepuscular and nocturnal species which shows both terrestrial and climbing activity depending upon needs. Behavior alert, aggressive and very quick to respond. On provocation raise its one third of forebody to show famous hood and hiss loudly to give warnings. Unlike Spectacled Cobra (N. naja) it can bite in very first attack which makes it more dangerous than N. naja. To escape it tries to creep slowly by keeping eyes on enemy (many times it displays hood while creeping).
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Feeds on variety of animals including frogs, toads, rodents, fishes; also feeds on birds, other snakes including venomous, small mammals etc.
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Habitat
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Lives up to 3300ft elevation in its range. Distributed in rainforests, mixed, moist deciduous forest, wet grasslands, mangroves, hill forests etc. Lives in dense & open forests, agricultural lands, rural and urban areas having vegetation and wetland, agricultural lands having mounds and deep hiding places, old woods etc. Hides in mounds, holes, piles, caves, cracks, under fallen wooden logs etc.
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Global Distribution
India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, South China, Myanmar, Nepal, Mainland Of Southeast Asia
Local Distribution
Northern India, West Bengal and Odisha; Assam (Throughout North East India)
Global Distribution
India, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, China, Thailand, Vietnam.
Indian Distribution
NE India , Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Sikkim, Assam, West Bengal, Orissa, Tripura
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Found in all North-east states, above Gangetic plains (Uttar Pradesh, Uttrakhand), Odisha, parts of Chota Nagpur (eastern Chattisgarh, whole of Bihar and Jharkhand), Haryana (probably the western most limit of this species)
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IUCN Red List Category
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IUCN: Least Concern
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Direct threats includes killing due to its venom potency, fear due to its aggressive behavior and road kills. This snake is exploited extensively by east Indian snake charmers and comes in pet & skin trade too. Many communities consume this species for edible use. Its venom is used in production of Anti Venom Serum and various research use so venom harvesting is done illegally in some parts of India and many other countries of its range. Other threats in India are wetland loss, pollution and poisoning in agricultural lands etc. Many countries are known for its exploitation for Chinese medicines and snake vine.
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CITES Status
Wildlife Protection Act (1972): Schedule 2
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Ecologically this is one important reptile component in wet forests of South-east Asia which checks population of a wide range of prey animals. Venom of N. kaouthia is used for various scientific research and production of Anti-venom Serum which is the most reliable medicine to treat victims of same species bite.
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References |
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