Walterinnesia aegyptia

(Lataste, 1887)

Vernacular names
English : Desert cobra
French : Cobra noir du désert

Classification
Class : Reptilia
Order : Squamata
Family : Elapidae
Notes : No subspecies known.

Identification
Adults can reach a maximum length of 1.80 meters but are more around 70 cm in length. Cylindrical body with blunt head and short tail. Coloration is entirely shiny black. Small eyes, broad and sharply-edged snout.

Range and habitat
The species occurs in North-east Africa and western Asia, from north-west Egypt to south Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia. Lives in stony deserts, steppes and arid oasis and agricultural land, up to 1500 m.

Conservation
IUCN RED LIST : LEAST CONCERN
CITES : Not listed
Status : The species still has a large range and is listed as Least Concern by IUCN. However it is clearly overcollected in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Ex-Situ Programs : None known

Observation

 

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