Added 30 December 2009.

A Look at the Family Elapidae

Paranaja

Burrowing Cobra


Introduction

This is a poorly known cobra species, with little or nothing known of either its venom or snakebite casualties. Recently it has been suggested on the basis of molecular DNA studies that the species be assigned instead to Naja.

Scientific Name Common Name Distribution Size Notes
Paranaja
P. multifasciata Burrowing Cobra W/C Dem Rep Congo, Congo-Brazaville, Cameroon, Gabon

 

Max SVL about .5-.8m Suspected to be fossorial and/or terrestrial. Scalation details: no details available. Other: head short and fairly rounded; rarely hoods. Coloration: overall green to brown; every scale tipped with black, giving speckled appearance; black cap on head with pale crossbar on nape; 2 black stripes over cream lips. Reproduction: no details available. [SOURCE: O'Shea].
P. m. multifasciata  
P. m. anomala Cameroon
P. m. duttoni  

Bibliography

Venomous Snakes of the World, Mark O'Shea, New Holland, 2008 edition. Useful overall guide to venomous snakes, few anatomical details but venom is briefly described for each species.