Paranaja multifasciata
Encyclopedia
Paranaja multifasciata is a species
of venomous
elapid snake
commonly known as the Many-banded Snake or Burrowing Cobra, the only species within the genus
Paranaja. The species is found in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon
in Africa
. Despite the common name, the species is not actually banded, but overall iridescent black
, with cream colored blotching on each scale
. The snakes grow to approximately 600 mm in length. Not much is known about their venom, but it is likely a neurotoxin
, like many other elapid snakes. The genus Paranaja was synonymised with Naja
in a recent molecular phylogenetic study, as this species is closely related to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca
)
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
of venomous
Venomous snake
"Poisonous snake" redirects here. For true poisonous snakes, see Rhabdophis.Venomous snakes are snakes which have venom glands and specialized teeth for the injection of venom...
elapid 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...
commonly known as the Many-banded Snake or Burrowing Cobra, the only species within the genus
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
Paranaja. The species is found in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon
Cameroon
Cameroon, officially the Republic of Cameroon , is a country in west Central Africa. It is bordered by Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast; the Central African Republic to the east; and Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of the Congo to the south. Cameroon's coastline lies on the...
in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
. Despite the common name, the species is not actually banded, but overall iridescent black
Black
Black is the color of objects that do not emit or reflect light in any part of the visible spectrum; they absorb all such frequencies of light...
, with cream colored blotching on each scale
Scale (zoology)
In most biological nomenclature, a scale is a small rigid plate that grows out of an animal's skin to provide protection. In lepidopteran species, scales are plates on the surface of the insect wing, and provide coloration...
. The snakes grow to approximately 600 mm in length. Not much is known about their venom, but it is likely a neurotoxin
Neurotoxin
A neurotoxin is a toxin that acts specifically on nerve cells , usually by interacting with membrane proteins such as ion channels. Some sources are more general, and define the effect of neurotoxins as occurring at nerve tissue...
, like many other elapid snakes. The genus Paranaja was synonymised with Naja
Naja
Naja is a genus of venomous elapid snakes. Although there are several other genera that share the common name, Naja are the most recognized and most widespread group of snakes commonly known as cobras. The genus Naja consists of 20 to 22 species, but has undergone several taxonomic revisions in...
in a recent molecular phylogenetic study, as this species is closely related to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca
Naja melanoleuca
The Forest Cobra, also known as the Black and White Cobra is a species of cobra in the Elapidae family, native to Africa....
)
Subspecies
- Paranaja multifasciata anomala (Sternfeld, 1917)
- Paranaja multifasciata duttoni (BoulengerGeorge Albert BoulengerGeorge Albert Boulenger FRS was a Belgian-British zoologist who identified over 2000 new animal species, chiefly fish, reptiles and amphibians.-Life:...
, 1904) - Paranaja multifasciata multifasciata (WernerFranz WernerFranz Werner was an Austrian zoologist and explorer. Specializing as a herpetologist and entomologist, Werner described numerous species and other taxa of frogs, snakes, insects, and other organisms....
, 1902)