Indochinese Spitting Cobra
Naja siamensis
A mottled gray-and-black spitting cobra common across mainland Southeast Asia, frequently encountered in and around rural villages.
- Venomous?
- Venomous
- Adult length
- 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft)
- Range
- Mainland Southeast Asia (Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos)
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Overview
The Indochinese spitting cobra is widespread across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, where it is a familiar and sometimes locally common snake near villages and farmland. It is often mottled or speckled in gray, black, and cream tones, giving it a distinctive marbled appearance compared to some other Asian cobras.
It is a venomous elapid capable of spitting venom and is medically important in the region due to its frequent proximity to humans and its tendency to shelter in and around buildings.
How to identify it
- Adults typically 0.9-1.2 m; relatively small to medium cobra.
- Coloration variable, often gray, brown, or blackish with irregular pale mottling or speckling, though some individuals are more uniform.
- Smooth scales, round pupils, moderately narrow hood.
- Distinguished from Thai spitting cobra relatives by mottled pattern and range across mainland Indochina.
Habitat & range
Found in lowland forest, agricultural fields, rural villages, and disturbed habitats across Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, frequently sheltering in termite mounds, rock piles, or under buildings and debris near human settlements.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Primarily nocturnal, foraging at night for rodents, amphibians, and other small vertebrates. Defends itself by rearing, spreading its hood, and spitting venom toward the eyes of a threat. It is oviparous, laying clutches of roughly 15-25 eggs.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Indochinese spitting cobra venomous?
Yes, it is a venomous elapid of medical importance across mainland Southeast Asia.
Where does it live?
In Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Laos, often near villages and agricultural land.
What does the Indochinese spitting cobra look like?
It typically shows a mottled gray, black, and cream pattern, though coloration can vary.
How big does it get?
Adults usually reach 0.9-1.2 m (3-4 ft).
Indochinese Spitting Cobra guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Indochinese Spitting Cobra.
