Reptiles · Squamata · Elapidae

Indian Cobra

Naja naja

Not Evaluated

It has not yet been assessed against the IUCN criteria. See full glossary

It is one of the 'big four' species responsible for most snakebites in India. It is revered in Hindu mythology and culture.

Weight

2 kg – 3 kg

Size

1.1 m – 2.2 m

Lifespan

24 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Crepuscular

Active above all at dawn and dusk.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Unknown

Fun facts

It is one of the 'big four' species responsible for most snakebites in India.
It is revered in Hindu mythology and culture, and traditionally associated with snake charmers.
It eats rodents, lizards, frogs and other snakes.

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (reptile)
Habitat & environment: Wetlands, rocky ground, woodland and farmland of the Indian subcontinent
Birth weight: Hatches from an egg; no precise weight found, 20-30 cm long on hatching
Size at birth: 20 - 30 cm long at hatching
Sexual maturity: 3-7 years (some sources give 2-4 years depending on the related subspecies)
Gestation / incubation: 48-69 days
Litter / clutch size: 10 to 30 eggs per clutch