THE ANIMAL FILES

Indian cobra

Naja naja

The familiar spectacles are a variable pattern on an expandable hood.

The Indian cobra spreads a broad hood when threatened. Some individuals carry two rounded marks joined by a curve on its back, the pattern behind the spectacle nickname, but colour and markings vary across its range.[1]

Follow the evidence ↓
Indian cobra
Image: Saleem Hameed · Commons · CC BY 2.5
Display
A broad expandable hood[1]
Food
Rodents, frogs, lizards and birds[1]
Reproduction
Egg-laying[1]

A pattern with exceptions

The spectacle mark lies on the back of the hood when present. Some animals have faint patterns or lack that clear mark, and colour may change with age. The familiar illustration therefore represents one appearance rather than every individual.[1]

Shelter across different landscapes

The species occupies forests, agricultural areas, rocky ground and wetlands. Tree hollows, embankment holes, termite mounds and small-mammal burrows provide hiding spaces. These cavities connect its activity to the structures made by plants, landforms and other animals.[1]

Prey and the next generation

Rodents are one food source, alongside frogs, lizards and birds. Prey is swallowed whole. Females lay eggs in sheltered cavities such as rodent holes or termite mounds; hatchlings begin life independently.[1]

A COMMON MIX-UP

Does every Indian cobra show clear spectacles?

No. The pattern is variable and can be faint or absent. This is a description of variation, not an identification shortcut.[1]

TRY A LITTLE REASONING

What connects termite mounds with more than one part of its life?

Reveal the explanation

A cavity can provide a hiding place and can also be used for egg laying. The same physical shelter can serve different stages.[1]

Sources & editorial notes

Adapted and translated from the cited Wikipedia revisions, with source-linked reasoning. Image credit and licence are listed separately above.

Adapted and translated from Wikipedia contributors; exact revisions are linked below. CC BY-SA 4.0

  1. Wikipedia contributors — Indian cobra (fixed revision; adapted and translated)
  2. NCBI Taxonomy — Naja naja (identity and classification)

Last fact check:

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