The black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra) is a species of venomous tree cobra found in central and western Africa. This species is one of the two tree cobras in Africa, the other being Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii).
| Black tree cobra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Pseudohaje |
| Species: | P. nigra
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| Binomial name | |
| Pseudohaje nigra | |
| Synonyms | |
Distribution and habitat edit
P. nigra is found in Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.[3]
Description edit
P. nigra is black dorsally, and brown ventrally. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 2.13 m (7.0 ft).[4]
This species, when cornered, will rear up its head, flare out a narrow hood and hiss loudly. If this doesn't help, it will strike or bite. When it bites, it injects a deadly neurotoxin. They are highly alert snakes and will strike readily when they feel provoked.
References edit
- ^ "Pseudohaje nigra". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
- ^ "Pseudohaje nigra". ITIS Standard Report Page. ITIS.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ a b c Uetz, Peter. "Pseudohaje nigra GÜNTHER, 1858". The Reptile Database. reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
- ^ Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Naia guentheri, p. 388 + Plate XXI, three views of head).
Further reading edit
- Günther A. 1858. Catalogue of the Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (Pseudohaje nigra, new species, p. 222).
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