The Indian cobra (Naja naja) is found across the Indian subcontinent and is one of the most instantly recognizable snakes in the world.
The hood that gives it away
When threatened, an Indian cobra raises the front third of its body off the ground and spreads its ribs outward, expanding the skin behind its head into a wide, flattened hood — an unmistakable warning display. Many individuals have a distinctive marking on the back of the hood, sometimes called a "spectacle" mark for its rough resemblance to a pair of glasses.
Living close to people
Indian cobras are found in a wide range of habitats, including farmland, grassland, and areas close to villages and towns — largely because these environments support the rodent populations that make up much of their diet.
Medically important
The Indian cobra is one of the "Big Four" snakes responsible for the majority of serious snakebites on the Indian subcontinent, alongside the common krait, Russell's viper, and the saw-scaled viper — a designation based on how often people are bitten, not on venom potency alone.
Range: Indian subcontinent · Length: Usually around 1–1.5 m · Diet: Rodents, frogs, lizards, and other snakes · Venom: Predominantly neurotoxic · Habitat: Farmland, grassland, and areas near human settlement