Black tree cobra

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Black tree cobra
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Pseudohaje
Species:
P. nigra
Binomial name
Pseudohaje nigra
Günther, 1858 [2] [3]
Synonyms
  • Pseudohaje nigraGünther, 1858
  • Naia guentheri Boulenger, 1896
  • Pseudohaje guentheri
    Bogert, 1942
  • Pseudohaje nigra
    Laurent, 1954 [3]

The black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra) is a species of venomous tree cobra found in central and western Africa. This species is one of the two tree cobras in Africa, the other being Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii).

Distribution and habitat

P. nigra is found in Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo. [3]

Description

P. nigra is black dorsally, and brown ventrally. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 2.13 m (7.0 ft). [4]


This species, when cornered, will rear up its head, flare out a narrow hood and hiss loudly. If this doesn't help, it will strike or bite. When it bites, it injects a deadly neurotoxin. They are highly alert snakes and will strike readily when they feel provoked.

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References

  1. "Pseudohaje nigra". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. "Pseudohaje nigra". ITIS Standard Report Page. ITIS.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 Uetz, Peter. "Pseudohaje nigra GÜNTHER, 1858". The Reptile Database. reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  4. Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Naia guentheri, p. 388 + Plate XXI, three views of head).

Further reading