Forest Cobra, Naja melanoleuca

Family Elapidae. All members of this family possess neurotoxic venom and fixed, erect front fangs. Although this species is listed as present in the Impenetrable Forest and also Kayonza, we have never encountered it, nor have we been able to locate specimens other than one in the collections of the Carnegie Museum. Most members of the genus Naja are able to present a "hood" in the face of danger.

Size: to nearly 2 m. TL

Habitat: principally moist forest habitats to above 2000 m.

Range: Senegal east to western Ethiopia and southern Somalia, south to Angola and Natal.