Arabian Cobra

About the Arabian Cobra

Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.

Frequently asked: Arabian Cobra

Is the Arabian Cobra venomous?

Yes. The Arabian Cobra (Naja arabica) is venomous and belongs to the Elapidae family (cobra, mamba, coral or sea snake). Its bite is considered high risk to people. Treat any bite as a medical emergency.

Is the Arabian Cobra poisonous?

Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Arabian Cobra is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.

Is the Arabian Cobra dangerous?

This is a venomous snake. Treat any bite as a medical emergency: stay calm, keep the bitten limb still and roughly level with the heart, remove rings and tight clothing, and get to emergency care immediately. Do not apply a tourniquet, cut the wound, apply ice, or try to suck out venom. Call your local emergency number or poison center.

Where does the Arabian Cobra live?

The Arabian Cobra has verified records in 13 countries, including Saudi Arabia, Oman, Nigeria. See the distribution section below for its full range.

Why is it called the Arabian Cobra?

Naja arabica is classified under the genus Naja of the family Elapidae. It was first described by an Italian herpetologist, Giuseppe Scortecci in 1932. The generic name Naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग), meaning "cobra". The specific epithet arabica means "of Arabia" or "Arabic". This species, Naja arabica, had long been considered a subspecies of the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species.

If you are bitten by the Arabian Cobra

First-aid guidance adapted from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC NIOSH), Venomous Snakes. Educational only; always follow the instructions of emergency responders.

Where it is found

More Elapidae snakes

• 
  Indian Cobra
  Naja naja
• 
  Chinese Cobra
  Naja atra
• 
  Cape Cobra
  Naja nivea
• 
  Equatorial Spitting Cobra
  Naja sumatrana
• 
  Mozambique Spitting Cobra
  Naja mossambica
• 
  Monocled Cobra
  Naja kaouthia
• 
  Brown Forest Cobra
  Naja subfulva
• 
  Snouted Cobra
  Naja annulifera

Classification

How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.

OrderThe broad group of scaled reptiles: all snakes and lizards

Squamata

FamilyA group of related snakes that share key traits

Elapidae

GenusA close-knit group of very similar species

Naja

SpeciesThis exact snake, named in the two-part scientific name

Naja arabica

Keep learning

• Are Snakes Dangerous? The Real Risk, in PerspectiveMost snakes are harmless and avoid people. Here is the honest picture of snakebite risk worldwide and how to lower your own.
• Snakebite First Aid: What to Do (and What Never to Do)A clear, CDC-based guide to snakebite first aid: the steps that help, the popular myths that hurt, and how to tell a serious bite from a minor one.
• Venomous vs Nonvenomous: How to Tell the DifferenceThe folk rules for telling venomous snakes apart, where each one fails, and why location-based identification beats guessing by sight.
• What to Do If You Find a SnakeFound a snake at home or on a trail? Here is how to stay calm, give it space, identify it safely, and know when to call a professional.