False cobra

(This site is for the snake found in Africa and Middle East. For the snake species Javanese False Cobra, go to Dull bamboo snake)

False cobra
In captivity
Scientific classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Psammophiidae
Genus: Malpolon
Species:
M. moilensis
Binomial name
Malpolon moilensis
(Reuss, 1834)
Synonyms
  • Coluber moilensis
  • Coelopeltis producta
  • Rhagerrhis moilensis
  • Rhagerhis moilensis
  • Rhagerrhis producta
  • Coelopeltis moilensis
  • Coelopeltis cordofanensis
  • Rhamphiophis septentrionalis
  • Malpolon moilensis
  • Rhamphiophis moilensis
  • Rhamphiophis maradiensis
  • Scutophis moilensis
  • Rhagerhis maradiensis

The false cobra (Malpolon moilensis), or hooded malpolon, is an opisthoglyphous snake found in parts of Africa and the Middle East. The name "false cobra" comes from the fact that while it is not a cobra, it imitates a cobra's stance by spreading its neck into a hood and hissing like the cobra. It can grow up to 1.5 metres in length and preys on rodents and lizards, while it itself falls prey to the Great grey shrike.

This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.