Misplaced Pages

Mali cobra

Article snapshot taken from Wikipedia with creative commons attribution-sharealike license. Give it a read and then ask your questions in the chat. We can research this topic together.
Species of snake

Mali cobra
Conservation status

Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Subgenus: Afronaja
Species: N. katiensis
Binomial name
Naja katiensis
Angel, 1922

The Mali cobra (Naja katiensis), also called the Katian spitting cobra or West African brown spitting cobra, is a species of spitting cobra found in West Africa.

Distribution and habitat

The Mali cobra occurs in both tropical and subtropical grasslands, open forests, savannas, and shrublands.This species geographic range's from Senegal to Cameroon, with recorded sightings in Gambia, Guinea-Bissau, far northern Guinea, Southern Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso, Northern Ghana, Togo, Southwestern Niger and Nigeria.

Behaviour

This species can be active both at day and night, although juveniles are only active during daytime. However, it is predominantly diurnal and terrestrial, but will often climb into small bushes. Mali cobras will take shelter under logs, rocks or in holes when inactive. If disturbed it will escape to cover with haste, but if cornered, will rear up and spread its small, narrow hood. If further provoked it will spit its venom. These snakes will bite if handled or accidentally stepped on.

Venom

"This species has venom that it spits towards its opponents. The venom consists of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cardiotoxins that cause cytotoxic activity."

References

  1. ^ Luiselli, L.; Chirio, L.; Wagner, P.; Wilms, T.; Chippaux, J.-P. (2021). "Naja katiensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T13265887A126471645. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-2.RLTS.T13265887A126471645.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. "Mali Cobra". Encyclopedia Of Life. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  3. "Mali Cobra". Encyclopedia Of Life. Retrieved 6 June 2017.
  4. "Toxinology - Mali Cobra". University of Adelaide. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  5. (“Western African Spitting Cobra.” Branson's Wild World, http://bransonswildworld.com/western-african-spitting-cobra/.)
Taxon identifiers
Naja katiensis


Stub icon

This snake article is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

Categories: