West African banded cobra
Species of snake
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The West African banded cobra (Naja savannula) is a species of cobra in the genus Naja that is found in West Africa.
| West African banded cobra | |
|---|---|
| |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Naja |
| Subgenus: | Boulengerina |
| Species: | N. savannula |
| Binomial name | |
| Naja savannula (Broadley, Trape, Chirio & Wüster in Wüster et al., 2018) | |
This species was previously thought to be identical to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species.[2] It differs from Naja melanoleuca and other forest cobras in having a series of 3–8 broad, semi-divided light bands across the anterior body.
Description
Brownish black or black dorsally, with a series of 3–8 broad, cream-coloured crossbands, each partly divided by a narrow black crossband. Midbody dorsal scale rows 19, Ventrals 211–226, subcaudals 67–73. Maximum recorded length 223 cm [2]