Any of several highly venomous elapid snakes that expand their neck ribs to form a hood.
They are found in warm regions of Africa, Australia, and Asia. Cobra bites are fatal in about 10% of human cases. Cobras feed primarily on small vertebrates. The Indian cobra ( Naja naja ) kills several thousand people annually, mostly because it enters houses to catch rats. The king cobra ( Ophiophagus hannah ) is the world's largest venomous snake, often more than 12 ft (3.5 m) long. Some African cobras can spit their venom more than 6 ft (1.8 m). Cobras are favourites of snake charmers, who, by their movements rather than their music, tease the deaf snakes into assuming the upreared defense posture.
Black-necked cobra ( Naja nigricollis )
E.S. Ross