Naja Naja

Naja naja, the Indian cobra, also known as the spectacled cobra, Asian cobra, or binocellate cobra, is a venomous snake in the family Elapidae native to the Indian subcontinent. It is moderately sized and heavy bodied, recognizable by the large hood it expands when threatened; many individuals display a hood mark of two circular patterns joined by a curved line, resembling a pair of spectacles, and adults typically measure 1 to 1.5 meters long. Its venom mainly contains a powerful post-synaptic neurotoxin and a cardiotoxin, acting on nerve synapses to paralyze muscles and potentially cause respiratory failure or cardiac arrest. It lives in a wide range of habitats, including dense and open forests, plains, farmland, rocky terrain, and urban areas, avoiding true deserts and favoring locations near water. It occurs throughout India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and southern Nepal, with possible presence in Bhutan and the extreme east of Afghanistan. It is listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, is protected under India's Wildlife Protection Act, and is revered in Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions.