Moila Snake
Rhagerhis moilensis
A robust, fast-moving desert snake of North Africa and Arabia, known as the 'false cobra' for its hood-flattening threat display.
- Venomous?
- Mildly venomous
- Adult length
- 0.8-1.5 m (2.6-5 ft)
- Range
- North Africa, the Sahara, and the Arabian Peninsula
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Overview
The Moila Snake, widely known as the false cobra, is a rear-fanged snake of the sand snake group (genus Rhagerhis, formerly placed in Malpolon) distributed across the deserts of North Africa, the Sahara, and the Arabian Peninsula. It is a comparatively robust, active diurnal predator of arid country.
When threatened it can raise the front of its body and flatten its neck into a hood-like display reminiscent of a true cobra, which is the origin of its 'false cobra' name. Despite this bluff and a mild rear-fang venom, it is not closely related to true cobras and is not considered dangerous to humans.
How to identify it
- Moderately robust body with smooth scales
- Coloration usually grayish, olive, or brownish with faint blotching that may fade in older individuals
- Head fairly broad, with large eyes and round pupils
- Adults typically 0.8-1.5 m
- Capable of flattening the neck into a cobra-like hood and raising the forebody when threatened, a behavior that can lead to misidentification as a true cobra
Habitat & range
Found in sandy and rocky deserts, semi-desert scrub, and dry steppe across North Africa, the Sahara, and the Arabian Peninsula, often near sparse vegetation, rock piles, and dry streambeds.
Behavior, diet & reproduction
Diurnal and alert, actively foraging for lizards, rodents, and other small vertebrates and using a mild rear-fang venom to subdue prey. Can be defensively bold, raising and flattening its neck into a hood-like bluff and hissing when threatened, despite not being dangerous to humans. Reproduction is oviparous, with clutches of eggs laid in loose soil or under cover.
Frequently asked questions
Why is the Moila Snake called the 'false cobra'?
When threatened it raises its forebody and flattens its neck into a hood-like display that mimics a true cobra, though it is unrelated to cobras.
Is the Moila Snake dangerous?
It is mildly venomous with rear fangs but is not considered dangerous to humans, relying mostly on bluff when threatened.
How big does the Moila Snake get?
Adults typically reach 0.8-1.5 m (2.6-5 ft).
Where does the Moila Snake live?
In deserts and semi-desert scrub across North Africa, the Sahara, and the Arabian Peninsula.
Moila Snake guides
In-depth guides for identifying and understanding Moila Snake.
