Cape cobra

The Cape cobra (Naja nivea) is a cobra inhabiting the regions of South Africa. It averages 4 feet (120 cm) long but may grow to be 6 feet (180 cm) long. The color varies from location to location, and those from the Kalahari are normally yellow with brown speck uniformly all over the body.

Cape cobra
File:Naja nivea.jpg
Scientific classification e
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Naja
Subgenus:	Uraeus
Species:	N. nivea
Binomial name
Naja nivea (Linnaeus, 1758)
File:Naja nivea distribution.png
Cape cobra distribution in green
Synonyms
Coluber niveus Linnaeus, 1758 Vipera (Echidna) flava Merrem, 1820 Naja nivea Boie, 1827 Naja gutturalis Smith, 1838 Naja intermixta Duméril, Bibron & Duméril, 1854 Naja haje var. capensis Jan, 1863 Naia flava Boulenger, 1887 Naja flava Sternfeld, 1910 Naja nivea FitzSimons & Brain, 1958 Naja nivea Harding & Welch, 1980 Naja nivea Auerbach, 1987 Naja nivea Welch, 1994 Naja (Uraeus) nivea Wallach, 2009

Cape Cobra Media

• Naja nivea in a dark brown and yellow speckled pattern IMG 0846.JPG

  Dark and mottled specimen from the vicinity of Cape Town

• Naja nivea IMG 5078 Kappkobra.jpg

  Mature Cape cobras in captivity – speckled colour variants in repose without spread hoods

• Cape cobra.jpg

  A Cape cobra raiding a communal nest of sociable weavers

• Verreaux's Eagle-owl (Bubo lacteus) eating a Cape Cobra (6499637647).jpg

  Verreaux's eagle-owl with Cape cobra prey

• Forming a hood while crossing a waterbody: The inflated lung provides stability.