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Naja

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Naja
Temporal range: Miocene-Holocene
Indian cobra (Naja naja), the type species
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Laurenti, 1768
Type species
Coluber naja
Linnaeus, 1758

Naja is a genus of venomous snakes, which is commonly known as true Cobras. It contains about 30 species, which can be found in Africa and Asia. The most recognizable feature of these snakes is that they can spread the upper part of their neck. Very often, it also has some coloring. These species usually feed on small mammals and birds. Note that there are some snake species which have cobra in their name, but which are not true cobras: Examples are the King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) or the Rinkhals (Hemachatus haemachatus, also called ring-necked spitting cobra)