A highly variable species, which is sometimes also known as the monocled
cobra because of the marking on the back of the neck hood that
resembles a pair of spectacles. The upper body colour is usually brown,
ranging from light fawn to almost black. The underside, including the
side of the head is pale yellowish-cream, occasionally with darker bands
or markings. The hood is expanded when the snake feels threatened by
moveable bony extensions of the vertebrae. This, combined with an
extremely loud hiss and the front half of the body raised up off of the
ground, is an imposing sight for any potential predator. The exception
is the mongoose, a small mammal which will readily take on and kill the
cobra.
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