In biology , a common name of a taxon or organism (also known as a vernacular name , English name, colloquial name, country name, popular name, or farmer's name) is a name that is based on the normal language of everyday life; and is often contrasted with the scientific name for the same organism, which is often based in Latin . A common name is sometimes frequently used, but that is not always the case.
57-517: The Indian cobra ( Naja naja ), also known commonly as the spectacled cobra , Asian cobra , or binocellate cobra , is a species of cobra , a venomous snake in the family Elapidae . The species is native to the Indian subcontinent , and is a member of the "big four" species that are responsible for the most snakebite cases in India. It is distinct from the king cobra , which belongs to
114-485: A particularly common name is used varies; some common names have a very local application, while others are virtually universal within a particular language. Some such names even apply across ranges of languages; the word for cat , for instance, is easily recognizable in most Germanic and many Romance languages . Many vernacular names, however, are restricted to a single country and colloquial names to local districts. Some languages also have more than one common name for
171-540: A rich yellow colour variation. This species has no known subspecies. Naja nivea was first described by Swedish zoologist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá ( नाग ) meaning "cobra". The specific epithet nivea is derived from the Latin words either nix or nivis meaning "snow" or niveus meaning "snowy" or "snow-white". The connection with snow
228-602: A total length of 1.86 metres (6.1 ft). Cape cobras vary widely in colouration, from yellow through golden brown to dark brown and even black. In addition, individuals show a varying degree of black or pale stippling and blotches, and although colour and marking are geographically related, observing virtually all colour varieties is possible at one location. For example, the Kalahari Desert specimens in Botswana and Namibia are usually more consistently yellow than
285-706: A variety of different habitats. The preferred habitat of the species is fynbos , bushveld , karoo scrubland , arid savanna , the Namib desert , and the Kalahari desert . It often inhabits rodent burrows, abandoned termite mounds, and in arid regions, rock crevices. Where it occurs in temperate regions and arid karroid regions, it is often found along rivers and streams entering well-drained, open areas. In Lesotho, they may occur at altitudes as high as 2,500 m (8,200 ft) above sea level. They occur in forest and high grassland areas of Free State province, in rocky hills of
342-535: A vernacular name describes one used in a lab, trade or industry that does not unambiguously describe a single chemical, such as copper sulfate , which may refer to either copper(I) sulfate or copper(II) sulfate. Sometimes common names are created by authorities on one particular subject, in an attempt to make it possible for members of the general public (including such interested parties as fishermen, farmers, etc.) to be able to refer to one particular species of organism without needing to be able to memorise or pronounce
399-423: A wide range of habitats throughout its geographical range. It can be found in dense or open forests, plains , agricultural lands ( rice paddy fields , wheat crops), rocky terrain, wetlands, and it can even be found in heavily populated urban areas, such as villages and city outskirts, ranging from sea level to 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) in altitude. This species is absent from true desert regions. The Indian cobra
456-537: Is diurnal and is a feeding generalist, preying on a number of different species and carrion. Predators of this species include birds of prey , honey badgers , and various species of mongooses . The Cape cobra is also known as the geelslang (yellow snake) and bruinkapel (brown cobra) in South Africa. Afrikaans -speaking South Africans also refer to the Cape cobra as koperkapel (copper cobra), mainly because of
513-539: Is oviparous . Mating season is during September and October, when these snakes may be more aggressive than usual. Females lay between 8 and 20 eggs (roughly 60 × 25 mm in size) in midsummer (December–January), in a hole or an abandoned termite mound or some other warm, wet location. The hatchlings measure between 34 and 40 cm (13 and 16 in) in length, and are completely independent from birth. In one captive study, mating occurred in September and oviposition
570-559: Is 100 to 150 mg according to Minton. The mortality rate for untreated bites is not exactly known, but is thought to be high, around ~50%, which can be due to various factors, including the amount of venom injected, psychological state of the bitten subject, the penetration of one or both fangs, and others. Mechanical ventilation and symptom management is often enough to save a victim's life, but cases of serious Cape cobra envenomation require antivenom. When death does occur, it normally takes one (in severe cases) to ten hours (or more), and it
627-490: Is a global system that attempts to denote particular organisms or taxa uniquely and definitively , on the assumption that such organisms or taxa are well-defined and generally also have well-defined interrelationships; accordingly the ICZN has formal rules for biological nomenclature and convenes periodic international meetings to further that purpose. The form of scientific names for organisms, called binomial nomenclature ,
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#1732790486376684-473: Is a medium-sized species of cobra. Mature specimens are typically about 1.2 to 1.4 m (3.9 to 4.6 ft) long, but may grow up to 1.6 m (5.2 ft) in length. Males are slightly larger than females. The longest specimen on record is a male from Aus, Namibia , measured 1.88 m (6.2 ft) long. Another very large specimen was also a male found in De Hoop Nature Reserve with
741-409: Is a quick-moving and alert species, and although a report mentions that this species is generally calm when compared to some other African venomous snakes , it strikes readily if threatened. When disturbed and brought to bay, the Cape cobra raises its forebody off the ground, spreads a broad hood, and may hiss loudly. While on the defensive, it strikes unhesitatingly. If the threat remains motionless,
798-1004: Is absent in most of Balochistan province , parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province , desert areas elsewhere and the Northern Areas . The most westerly record comes from Duki, Balochistan in Pakistan, while the most easterly record is from the Tangail District in Bangladesh. As this species has been observed in Drosh, in the Chitral Valley , it may also occur in the Kabul River Valley in extreme eastern Afghanistan . There's been at least one report of this species occurring in Bhutan . The Indian cobra inhabits
855-461: Is in these remarks from a book on marine fish: In scientific binomial nomenclature, names commonly are derived from classical or modern Latin or Greek or Latinised forms of vernacular words or coinages; such names generally are difficult for laymen to learn, remember, and pronounce and so, in such books as field guides, biologists commonly publish lists of coined common names. Many examples of such common names simply are attempts to translate
912-401: Is made up of potent postsynaptic neurotoxins and might also contain cardiotoxins , that affect the respiratory system , nervous system , and the heart . The mouse SC LD 50 for this species' venom ranges from 0.4 mg / kg to 0.72, while the intravenous and intraperitoneal LD 50 values are 0.4 mg/kg and 0.6 mg/kg, respectively. The average venom yield per bite
969-493: Is obscure, but might have been suggested by discolouration of the first preserved specimens received by taxonomists in Europe. Naja is a genus in the family Elapidae . Linnaeus first described Naja nivea in 1758. He originally assigned the binomial name Coluber niveus , but some 10 years afterwards, Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti described the genus of true cobras under the name Naja . In 2007, Wüster et al. partitioned
1026-403: Is often found in the vicinity of water. Preferred hiding locations are holes in embankments, tree hollows, termite mounds , rock piles and small mammal dens. Common name In chemistry , IUPAC defines a common name as one that, although it unambiguously defines a chemical, does not follow the current systematic naming convention, such as acetone , systematically 2-propanone , while
1083-485: Is often mistaken for the Indian cobra; however, this snake is much longer and can easily be distinguished by the more prominent ridged appearance of its body. Other snakes that resemble Naja naja are the banded racer Argyrogena fasciolata and the Indian smooth snake Wallophis brachyura . Also, the monocled cobra ( Naja kaouthia ) may be confused with Naja naja ; however, the monocled cobra has an O-shaped pattern on
1140-412: Is referred to by a number of local names deriving from the root of Naga. For Indo-Aryan and Dravidian languages: The Indian cobra is a moderately sized, heavy-bodied species. This cobra species can easily be identified by its relatively large and quite impressive hood, which it expands when threatened. Many specimens exhibit a hood mark. This hood mark is located at the rear ( dorsal surface) of
1197-479: Is relatively uncommon. The Indian cobra varies tremendously in colour and pattern throughout its range. The ventral scales or the underside colouration of this species can be grey, yellow, tan, brown, reddish or black. Dorsal scales of the Indian cobra may have a hood mark or colour patterns. The most common visible pattern is a posteriorly convex light band at the level of the 20th to 25th ventrals. Salt-and-pepper speckles, especially in adult specimens, are seen on
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#17327904863761254-459: Is superficially similar to the noun-adjective form of vernacular names or common names which were used by non-modern cultures. A collective name such as owl was made more precise by the addition of an adjective such as screech . Linnaeus himself published a flora of his homeland Sweden, Flora Svecica (1745), and in this, he recorded the Swedish common names, region by region, as well as
1311-608: Is the Cape dikkop (or "gewone dikkop", not to mention the presumably much older Zulu name "umBangaqhwa"); Burhinus vermiculatus is the "water dikkop". The thick joints in question are not even, in fact, the birds' knees, but the intertarsal joints —in lay terms the ankles. Furthermore, not all species in the genus have "thick knees", so the thickness of the "knees" of some species is not of clearly descriptive significance. The family Burhinidae has members that have various common names even in English, including " stone curlews ", so
1368-463: Is the case with say, ginkgo , okapi , and ratel . Folk taxonomy , which is a classification of objects using common names, has no formal rules and need not be consistent or logical in its assignment of names, so that say, not all flies are called flies (for example Braulidae , the so-called "bee lice") and not every animal called a fly is indeed a fly (such as dragonflies and mayflies ). In contrast, scientific or biological nomenclature
1425-566: The Rinkhals spitting cobra. The Cape cobra is endemic to southern Africa. In South Africa , where it most often occurs, the species occurs throughout the Western Cape , Northern Cape , Eastern Cape , Free State , and North West Province . It also is found in the southern half of Namibia, southwestern Botswana , and western Lesotho . Although the Cape cobra has a smaller geographical range than any other African cobra, it occurs in
1482-398: The anal shield is single. There are seven upper labials (3rd the largest and in contact with the nasal anteriorly, 3rd and 4th in contact with the eye) and 9-10 lower labials (small angular cuneate scale present between 4th and 5th lower labial), as well as one preocular in contact with internasals, and three postoculars . Temporals are 2 + 3. The Oriental rat snake Ptyas mucosa
1539-509: The Cape Province, and in desert and semidesert areas throughout their geographical range. Cape cobras venture into villages, low population density suburbs of Cape Town, Atlantic-front luxury properties and squatter communities, where they may enter houses to escape the heat of the day or to seek prey such as rodents. This brings them into direct contact with humans. The Cape cobra is a diurnal species and actively forages throughout
1596-699: The Hebrew Language publish from time to time short dictionaries of common name in Hebrew for species that occur in Israel or surrounding countries e.g. for Reptilia in 1938, Osteichthyes in 2012, and Odonata in 2015. Naja nivea The Cape cobra ( Naja nivea ), also called the yellow cobra , is a moderate-sized, highly venomous species of cobra inhabiting a wide variety of biomes across southern Africa , including arid savanna , fynbos , bushveld , desert, and semidesert regions. The species
1653-583: The Indian cobra's hood. When the hood mark is present, it consists of two circular ocelli patterns connected by a curved line, evoking the image of spectacles . This species has a head that is elliptical, depressed, and very slightly distinct from the neck. The snout is short and rounded with large nostrils. The eyes are medium in size and the pupils are round. The majority of adult specimens range from 1 to 1.5 metres (3.3 to 4.9 ft) in length. Some specimens, particularly those from Sri Lanka, may grow to lengths of 2.1 to 2.2 metres (6.9 to 7.2 ft), but this
1710-710: The SSAR switched to an online version with a searchable database. Standardized names for the amphibians and reptiles of Mexico in Spanish and English were first published in 1994, with a revised and updated list published in 2008. A set of guidelines for the creation of English names for birds was published in The Auk in 1978. It gave rise to Birds of the World: Recommended English Names and its Spanish and French companions. The Academy of
1767-534: The Secretariat for the AFNC. SSA is an accredited Standards Australia (Australia's peak non-government standards development organisation) Standards Development The Entomological Society of America maintains a database of official common names of insects, and proposals for new entries must be submitted and reviewed by a formal committee before being added to the listing. Efforts to standardize English names for
Indian cobra - Misplaced Pages Continue
1824-505: The amphibians and reptiles of North America (north of Mexico) began in the mid-1950s. The dynamic nature of taxonomy necessitates periodical updates and changes in the nomenclature of both scientific and common names. The Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles (SSAR) published an updated list in 1978, largely following the previous established examples, and subsequently published eight revised editions ending in 2017. More recently
1881-515: The author introduced into it so many new English names, that are to be found in no dictionary, and that do not preclude the necessity of learning with what Latin names they are synonymous. A tolerable idea may be given of the danger of too great a multiplicity of vulgar names, by imagining what geography would be, or, for instance, the Post-office administration, supposing every town had a totally different name in every language. Various bodies and
1938-493: The authors of many technical and semi-technical books do not simply adapt existing common names for various organisms; they try to coin (and put into common use) comprehensive, useful, authoritative, and standardised lists of new names. The purpose typically is: Other attempts to reconcile differences between widely separated regions, traditions, and languages, by arbitrarily imposing nomenclature, often reflect narrow perspectives and have unfortunate outcomes. For example, members of
1995-458: The back of the hood, while the Indian cobra has a spectacles-shaped pattern on its hood. Confusions may exist with Caspian cobra ( Naja oxiana ), as some Indian cobra specimens without a hood mark are sometimes confused with N. oxiana , where these two species coexist in Pakistan and Afghanistan. Although some Caspian cobra specimens can be quite dark, they are never fully black like the Indian cobra. N. oxiana normally has several dark bands under
2052-408: The choice of the name "thick-knees" is not easy to defend but is a clear illustration of the hazards of the facile coinage of terminology. For collective nouns for various subjects, see a list of collective nouns (e.g. a flock of sheep, pack of wolves). Some organizations have created official lists of common names, or guidelines for creating common names, hoping to standardize
2109-415: The day. During very hot weather, it may become crepuscular , but is rarely if ever observed during darkness. It is a terrestrial snake, but readily climbs trees and bushes, and shows considerable agility in, for example, systematically robbing the nests of the sociable weaver . When not active, it hides in holes or under ground cover, such as brush piles, often remaining in the same retreat for some time. It
2166-531: The dorsal scales. Specimens, particularly those found in Sri Lanka, may exhibit poorly defined banding on the dorsum. Ontogenetic colour change is frequently observed in specimens in the northwestern parts of their geographic range (southern Pakistan and northwestern India). In southern Pakistan, juvenile specimens may be grey in colour and may or may not have a hood mark. Adults on the other hand are typically uniformly black in colour on top ( melanistic ), while
2223-471: The exception of specimens from the northwest, there is often a pair of lateral spots on the throat where the ventral and dorsal scales meet. The positioning of these spots varies, with northwestern specimens having the spots positioned more anterior, while specimens from elsewhere in their range are more posterior. Dorsal scales are smooth and strongly oblique. Midbody scales are in 23 rows (21–25), with 171–197 ventrals . There are 48–75 divided subcaudals and
2280-557: The family Elapidae . The genus was first described by Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti in 1768. The species Naja naja was first described by the Swedish physician, zoologist, and botanist Carl Linnaeus in 1758. The genus Naja was split into several subgenera based on various factors, including morphology, diet, and habitat. Naja naja is part of the subgenus Naja , along with all the other species of Asiatic cobras, including Naja kaouthia , Naja siamensis , Naja sputatrix , and
2337-522: The genus Burhinus occur in Australia, Southern Africa, Eurasia, and South America. A recent trend in field manuals and bird lists is to use the name " thick-knee " for members of the genus. This, in spite of the fact that the majority of the species occur in non-English-speaking regions and have various common names, not always English. For example, "Dikkop" is the centuries-old South African vernacular name for their two local species: Burhinus capensis
Indian cobra - Misplaced Pages Continue
2394-1566: The genus Naja into four separate subgenera on the basis of various factors such as lineage, morphology, and diet. They placed Naja nivea in the subgenus Uraeus , the African nonspitting cobras - Cape cobra ( N. nivea ), Egyptian cobra ( N. haje ), snouted cobra ( N. annulifera ), Anchieta's cobra ( N. anchietae ), Arabian cobra ( N. arabica ), and Senegalese cobra ( N. senegalensis ). Naja ( Naja ) naja Naja ( Naja ) kaouthia Naja ( Naja ) atra Naja ( Naja ) sagittifera Naja ( Naja ) oxiana Naja ( Naja ) sputatrix Naja ( Naja ) samarensis Naja ( Naja ) philippinensis Naja ( Naja ) mandalayensis Naja ( Naja ) sumatrana Naja ( Naja ) siamensis Naja ( Afronaja ) pallida Naja ( Afronaja ) nubiae Naja ( Afronaja ) katiensis Naja ( Afronaja ) nigricollis Naja ( Afronaja ) ashei Naja ( Afronaja ) mossambica Naja ( Afronaja ) nigricincta Naja (Boulengerina) multifasciata Naja (Boulengerina) christyi Naja (Boulengerina) annulata Naja (Boulengerina) savannula Naja (Boulengerina) subfulva Naja (Boulengerina) guineensis Naja (Boulengerina) peroescobari Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca Naja ( Uraeus ) nivea Naja ( Uraeus ) senegalensis Naja ( Uraeus ) haje Naja ( Uraeus ) arabica Naja ( Uraeus ) annulifera Naja ( Uraeus ) anchietae The Cape cobra
2451-711: The modern (now binding) International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi, and plants contains the following: Art. 68. Every friend of science ought to be opposed to the introduction into a modern language of names of plants that are not already there unless they are derived from a Latin botanical name that has undergone but a slight alteration. ... ought the fabrication of names termed vulgar names, totally different from Latin ones, to be proscribed. The public to whom they are addressed derives no advantage from them because they are novelties. Lindley's work, The Vegetable Kingdom, would have been better relished in England had not
2508-549: The monotypic genus Ophiophagus . The Indian cobra is revered in Hindu mythology and culture , and is often seen with snake charmers . It is a protected species under the Indian Wildlife Protection Act (1972). The generic name and the specific epithet naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāga ( नाग ) meaning "cobra". The Indian cobra is classified under the genus Naja of
2565-479: The more southerly populations, but at De Hoop , and other specific locations in the Western Cape, all colour variations have been recorded. Juvenile specimens generally have conspicuously dark throats extending down the belly for the width of a dozen or so ventral scales . The colour fades during the first year or two of life, but while it lasts, it commonly leads laymen to confuse the juvenile Cape cobra with
2622-1623: The rest. Naja naja is considered to be the prototypical cobra species within the subgenus Naja , and within the entire genus Naja . All Asiatic species of Naja were considered conspecific with Naja naja until the 1990s, often as subspecies thereof. Many of the subspecies were later found to be artificial or composites. This causes much potential confusion when interpreting older literature. Naja ( Naja ) naja Naja ( Naja ) kaouthia Naja ( Naja ) atra Naja ( Naja ) sagittifera Naja ( Naja ) oxiana Naja ( Naja ) sputatrix Naja ( Naja ) samarensis Naja ( Naja ) philippinensis Naja ( Naja ) mandalayensis Naja ( Naja ) sumatrana Naja ( Naja ) siamensis Naja ( Afronaja ) pallida Naja ( Afronaja ) nubiae Naja ( Afronaja ) katiensis Naja ( Afronaja ) nigricollis Naja ( Afronaja ) ashei Naja ( Afronaja ) mossambica Naja ( Afronaja ) nigricincta Naja (Boulengerina) multifasciata Naja (Boulengerina) christyi Naja (Boulengerina) annulata Naja (Boulengerina) savannula Naja (Boulengerina) subfulva Naja (Boulengerina) guineensis Naja (Boulengerina) peroescobari Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca Naja ( Uraeus ) nivea Naja ( Uraeus ) senegalensis Naja ( Uraeus ) haje Naja ( Uraeus ) arabica Naja ( Uraeus ) annulifera Naja ( Uraeus ) anchietae The Indian cobra or spectacled cobra, being common in South Asia,
2679-488: The same animal. For example, in Irish, there are many terms that are considered outdated but still well-known for their somewhat humorous and poetic descriptions of animals. w/ literal translations of the poetic terms Common names are used in the writings of both professionals and laymen . Lay people sometimes object to the use of scientific names over common names, but the use of scientific names can be defended, as it
2736-402: The scientific name into English or some other vernacular. Such translation may be confusing in itself, or confusingly inaccurate, for example, gratiosus does not mean "gracile" and gracilis does not mean "graceful". The practice of coining common names has long been discouraged; de Candolle's Laws of Botanical Nomenclature , 1868, the non-binding recommendations that form the basis of
2793-555: The scientific name. Creating an "official" list of common names can also be an attempt to standardize the use of common names, which can sometimes vary a great deal between one part of a country and another, as well as between one country and another country, even where the same language is spoken in both places. A common name intrinsically plays a part in a classification of objects, typically an incomplete and informal classification, in which some names are degenerate examples in that they are unique and lack reference to any other name, as
2850-579: The scientific names. The Swedish common names were all binomials (e.g. plant no. 84 Råg-losta and plant no. 85 Ren-losta); the vernacular binomial system thus preceded his scientific binomial system. Linnaean authority William T. Stearn said: By the introduction of his binomial system of nomenclature, Linnaeus gave plants and animals an essentially Latin nomenclature like vernacular nomenclature in style but linked to published, and hence relatively stable and verifiable, scientific concepts and thus suitable for international use. The geographic range over which
2907-414: The snake quickly attempts to escape, but at any sign of movement, adopts its defensive posture again. The Cape cobra is more aggressive during the mating period. This species of cobra is a feeding generalist. It feeds on a wide spectrum of prey, including other snakes, rodents, lizards, birds, and carrion. Recorded prey items for this species at De Hoop from October 2004 to March 2006 showed that 31% of
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#17327904863762964-524: The species' diet consisted of rodents, 20% was other snakes, 11% lizards, 11% birds, 16% carrion, and 11% "conspecifics". In the same study period conducted at De Hoop, Cape cobras were seen scavenging and feeding on carrion on two occasions. Both were road-killed snakes, the first, an adult Psammophylax rhombeatus , the second an adult karoo whip snake , Psammophis notostictus . It is also well known for raiding sociable weaver ( Philetairus socius ) nests. Cape cobras can be cannibalistic , sometimes eating
3021-465: The throat, whereas in the black phase of N. naja from Pakistan, almost the entire throat is black. The Indian cobra is native to the Indian subcontinent and can be found throughout India , Pakistan , Sri Lanka , Bangladesh , and southern Nepal . In India, it may or may not occur in the state of Assam , some parts of Kashmir , and it does not occur at high altitudes of over 2,000 metres (6,600 ft) and in extreme desert regions. In Pakistan, it
3078-463: The underside, outside the throat region, is usually light. Patterns on the throat and ventral scales are also variable in this species. The majority of specimens exhibit a light throat area followed by dark banding, which can be 4–7 ventral scales wide. Adult specimens also often exhibit a significant amount of mottling on the throat and on the venter, which makes patterns on this species less clear relative to patterns seen in other species of cobra. With
3135-832: The use of common names. For example, the Australian Fish Names List or AFNS was compiled through a process involving work by taxonomic and seafood industry experts, drafted using the CAAB (Codes for Australian Aquatic Biota) taxon management system of the CSIRO , and including input through public and industry consultations by the Australian Fish Names Committee (AFNC). The AFNS has been an official Australian Standard since July 2007 and has existed in draft form (The Australian Fish Names List) since 2001. Seafood Services Australia (SSA) serve as
3192-425: The young of its own kind. Predators of Cape cobras include the honey badger (ratel). Other carnivorous mammals such as meerkats and a few species of mongoose often prey on the Cape cobra and are its main predators; they have a low susceptibility to its venom. Various birds of prey , including secretary birds and snake eagles , may also prey on this species, as do some other species of snakes. This species
3249-584: Was in November. Its gestation period was about 42 days and the incubation period was 65–70 days around 28–33 °C (82–91 °F). Clutch size was 11–14 (n=2) and hatchling ratio was one male to five females. The Cape cobra is regarded as one of the most dangerous species of cobra in all of Africa, by virtue of its potent venom and frequent occurrence around houses. The venom of this snake tends to be thick and syrupy in consistency and dries into shiny pale flakes, not unlike yellow sugar. The Cape cobra's venom
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