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Caspian cobra

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Central Asian Cobra
Scientific classification
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N. oxiana
Binomial name
Naja oxiana
(Eichwald, 1831)

Central Asian Cobra Naja oxiana is a species of venomous snake found in Central Asia.

Distribution

Afghanistan, NE Iran, NW India, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, SW Tajikistan, Uzbekistan Type locality: Transcaspia

Behavior

This species is mainly terrestrial & diurnal. It feeds on small mammals, amphibians & birds during evening and early morning.

Habitat

It can be found in rocky, stony, foothills, sometimes found above 3,000m (10,000ft)elevation. This is also the Westernmost species of "Asian Cobra".

Venom

Mainly Neurotoxicity. Bite of this species may cause severe pain and swelling. Weakness, drowsiness and paralysis of throat may appear in less than 1 hour after the bite. Death can result due to respiratory failure.

References

  • Wüster, Wolfgang 1993 A century of confusion: Asiatic cobras revisited Vivarium 4 (4): 14-18
  • Eichwald, E. 1831 Zoologia specialis, quam expositis animalibus tum vivis, tum fossilibus potissimuni rossiae in universum, et poloniae in specie, in usum lectionum publicarum in Universitate Caesarea Vilnensi. Zawadski, Vilnae.
  • Wüster,W.; Thorpe,R.S. 1991 Asiatic cobras: Systematics and snakebite. Experientia 47: 205-209
  • Wüster, W.;Thorpe, R.S. 1992 Asiatic cobras: population systematics of the Naja naja species complex (Serpentes: Elapidae) in India and Central Asia. Herpetologica 48: 69-85.
  • Wüster, Wolfgang 1998 The cobras of the genus Naja in India Hamadryad 23 (1): 15-32