Elapidae
Black Forest Cobra
VenomousNaja guineensis
4 photographs of the Black Forest Cobra. no rights reserved.
The Black Forest Cobra (Naja guineensis) is a venomous snake in the Elapidae family, recorded in 6 countries.
If you are bitten
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.
- Family
- Elapidae
- Danger
- high
About the Black Forest Cobra
The black forest cobra (Naja guineensis) is a species of cobra in the genus Naja that is found in West Africa.
This species was long thought to be identical to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species. It differs from Naja melanoleuca in often having 17 rather than 19 midbody dorsal scale rows, a reduced number of dark ventral bands, and a tendency towards ontogenetic melanism.
Description
Adults are uniformly brownish black or black dorsally, or may display faint variegated lighter markings. Juveniles have much more pronounced light speckling or variegated banding. Ventrally, the throat is light, and is followed by several alternating dark and light bands (usually 2-3 discrete dark bands), the remainder of the ventral side is uniformly black. In adults, the light ventral bands often become heavily suffused with dark mottling and may become indistinguishable. The labial region and the underside of the head are cream, and the edges of the labials are heavily outlined in black. In adults, the labial region may become almost entirely suffused with dark mottling. Ventrals 203-221, subcaudals 60-70. Maximum recorded length 264 cm
Distribution
The species occurs in West Africa, and is documented from the Upper Guinea forests of Togo, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Guinea, and Guinea-Bissau.
Adapted from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA.
Frequently asked: Black Forest Cobra
- Is the Black Forest Cobra venomous?
- Yes. The Black Forest Cobra (Naja guineensis) 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 Black Forest Cobra poisonous?
- Snakes are venomous, not poisonous. "Poisonous" means harmful to eat or touch; "venomous" means injecting toxins through a bite. The Black Forest Cobra is venomous, delivering venom through a bite.
- Is the Black Forest 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 Black Forest Cobra live?
- The Black Forest Cobra has verified records in 6 countries, including Liberia, Togo, Ghana. See the distribution section below for its full range.
If you are bitten by the Black Forest Cobra
Do
- Get away from the snake and stay calm. Most bites worsen when people panic or try again to handle the snake.
- Call 911 or Poison Control (1-800-222-1222) right away. Antivenom works best when given early.
- Note the time of the bite and, from a safe distance, the snake's color and pattern, a phone photo is enough. Do not chase it.
- Keep the bitten limb still and at roughly heart level. Sit or lie down and limit movement.
- Remove rings, watches, and tight clothing near the bite before swelling starts.
- Gently wash the bite with soap and water and cover it with a clean, dry dressing.
Do not
- Do not cut the wound or try to suck out the venom.
- Do not apply a tourniquet or ice.
- Do not drink alcohol or caffeine.
- Do not take aspirin or ibuprofen, they can worsen bleeding. Acetaminophen is safer for pain.
- Do not try to catch or kill the snake. A dead snake can still bite by reflex.
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
Classification
How scientists group this snake, from the broadest category down to the exact species. Each step narrows to its closest relatives.
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.
Distribution from GBIF & iNaturalist. Venom status per CDC. Background: Wikipedia. Informational only. Never handle a snake to identify it.