Egyptian Cobra – Naja haje

Egyptian Cobra – Naja haje

The Egyptian Cobra is the most common cobra in Africa and is responsible for many deaths there. It typically makes its home in dry to moist savanna and semi-desert regions, with at least some water and vegetation (never in desert regions). The Egyptian Cobra may also be found in oases, agricultural grounds, hills with sparse vegetation, and grasslands. They frequent human habitat areas and often enter villages and houses, searching for prey such as rats and chickens, which feed on human garbage.

The average adult cobra is 5′ to 6.75′ (1.5-2m) in length, and some have grown to 8′. This snake preys on small mammals, lizards, toads, and other snakes, including other venomous snakes, such as the puff adder.
The average venom quantity typically reaches 175 to 200 mg in a single bite. It has the third most toxic venom of any cobra, after the Philippine Cobra (Naja Philippines) and the Cape Cobra. However, the Egyptian cobra is considered to be much deadlier than the Northern Philippine Cobra or Cape cobra because it is much larger, more aggressive, and can inject more venom in a single bite. It has neurotoxic venom which affects the nervous system, stopping the nerve signals from being transmitted to the muscles and at later stages stopping those transmitted to the heart and lungs as well, causing death due to complete respiratory failure.