Egyptian cobra Egyptian cobra The Egyptian cobra ("Naja haje") is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. "Naja haje" is one of the largest cobra species native to Africa, second to the forest cobra ("Naja melanoleuca"). "Naja haje" was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name "naja" is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word ' () meaning "cobra". The specific epithet "haje" is derived from the Arabic word hayya" (حية"') which literally means "snake". The Egyptian cobra is one of the largest cobras of the African continent. The head is large and depressed and slightly
Eastern brown snake grey-brown towards the tail. There are often orange, brown or dark grey blotches on the underparts, more prominent anteriorly. The ventral scales are often edged with dark brown on their posterior edges. Juveniles can vary in markings, but generally have a black head, with a lighter brown snout and band behind, and a black nuchal band. Their bodies can be uniform brown, or have many black bands, or a reticulated pattern, with all darker markings fading with age. Snake clutches in colder areas often have more banded than unbanded young snakes. Its yellowish underparts serve to distinguish it from the