The snouted cobra, Naja annulifera, is a snake species found in southern Africa in Zambia, Zimbabwe, C/S Mozambique, E Botswana, NE South Africa and Swaziland. It was formerly considered a subspecies of the Egyptian Cobra

Egyptian cobra

The Egyptian cobra is a species in the genus Naja found in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the largest Naja species in Africa.- Description :...

 Naja haje, and the Anchieta's Cobra (Naja anchietae) was also formerly considered to be a subspecies of the latter species and later this species, before being split as a distinct species.

On March 26, 2011 the Bronx Zoo

Bronx Zoo

The Bronx Zoo is located in the Bronx borough of New York City, within Bronx Park. It is the largest metropolitan zoo in the United States, comprising of park lands and naturalistic habitats, through which the Bronx River flows....

's Reptile house was closed due to the escape of an "Egyptian Cobra". This is actually a Banded Snouted Cobra. The snake was found on March 31, 2011.

Description

Most adults of this species are grey-brown above with yellow ventral scales and a brown throat band, but there is also a banded phase with wide yellow and brown bands that occurs throughout its range. Juveniles are lighter being yellow or greenish and having a black throat band and dark scale margins that can form irregular transverse lines.

Venom

It is a highly venomous species with neurotoxic venom, and a bite can cause local pain swelling and paralysis and possibly death.

Habitat

Snouted cobras inhabit savanna grasslands, semideserts, and rocky areas but is also often found nearby humans in gardens and under houses.

Diet

Their diet consists of amphibians, small mammals, reptiles including other snakes and birds and their eggs.