Desert Cobra
Walterinnesia aegyptia
A glossy black, primarily nocturnal elapid found in the deserts of North Africa and the Middle East.
- Adult length
- 0.7-1.5 m (2.3-5 ft)
- Range
- North Africa and the Middle East
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Overview
The Desert Cobra is a nocturnal elapid inhabiting arid and desert regions of North Africa and the Middle East. Despite its common name, it lacks a true hood and is only distantly related to true cobras of the genus Naja, though it shares the family Elapidae.
Its secretive, burrowing, nocturnal habits mean encounters with people are relatively infrequent.
How to identify it
- Uniformly glossy black or dark brown body, occasionally with a slight bluish sheen
- Smooth scales and a cylindrical, moderately stout body
- Small head not strongly distinct from the neck, lacking the expandable hood of true cobras
- Round pupils typical of elapids
- Adults typically 0.7-1.5 m
- Distinguished from other black desert snakes by its smooth uniform coloration and elapid head shape
Habitat & range
Inhabits sandy and rocky deserts, semi-desert scrubland, and oasis margins across Egypt, the Levant, and the Arabian Peninsula. Often shelters in rodent burrows, rock crevices, or loose sand during the day.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal, emerging after dark to hunt. Feeds on small mammals, lizards, and other snakes. Reproduction is oviparous, with females laying small clutches of eggs in underground burrows.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Desert Cobra have a hood?
No, unlike true cobras it does not have an expandable hood.
Where is the Desert Cobra found?
In deserts and arid regions of North Africa and the Middle East.
Is the Desert Cobra active during the day?
No, it is primarily nocturnal, sheltering during daylight hours.
Desert Cobra guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Desert Cobra.
