About Naja mossambica Peters, 1854
Dorsal Coloration
The upper body of Naja mossambica ranges in colour from slate to blue, olive, or tawny black, with some or all of its scales edged in black.
Ventral Coloration
The ventral side is salmon pink to purplish yellowish, marked with black bars across the neck, and the ventral scales are speckled or edged with brown or black; young individuals sometimes have pink or yellow bars on the throat.
Average Adult Size
Adult Naja mossambica average between 90 cm and 105 cm (3 to 3½ feet) in total length.
Maximum Recorded Size
The largest recorded specimen was a male measuring 154 cm (5 feet) long, collected in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Species Commonness
Naja mossambica is the most common cobra species found in the savanna regions of tropical and subtropical Africa.
Geographic Distribution
Its confirmed distribution covers all of Mozambique; KwaZulu-Natal, extending as far south as Durban; the lowveld region of Mpumalanga; southeastern Tanzania and Pemba Island; and stretches west to far southeastern Angola and northeastern Namibia.
Juvenile Activity Pattern
Younger specimens are much more often seen out in open areas during the daytime.
Habitat Preference
Unlike the Egyptian Cobra, this species prefers habitats near water, and will readily enter water when disturbed.
Clutch Size
Clutches of Naja mossambica eggs contain between 10 and 22 eggs each.
Hatchling Size
Newly hatched individuals measure 230–250 mm (9.1–9.8 in) in total length, including the tail.
