Naja oxiana or the Central Asian Cobra is a species of venomous snake

Snake

Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...

 found in Central Asia

Central Asia

Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...

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Distribution

It is found in Afghanistan, NE Iran, Pakistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkmenistan, SW Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan. The type locality is Transcaspia.

Behavior

It is mainly terrestrial and diurnal. It feeds on small mammals, amphibians and birds during the evening and early morning.

Habitat

It can be found in rocky, stony foothills up to and sometimes above 3000 metres (9,842.5 ft) elevation. This is also the westernmost species of Asian cobra.

Venom

The venom is mainly neurotoxic. The bite of this species may cause severe pain and swelling. Weakness, drowsiness and paralysis of throat may appear in less than 1 hour after the bite. Death can result due to respiratory failure.