(Broadley, Trape, Chirio, Ineich & Wüster in Wüster et al., 2018)
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.[1] 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 [1]
^ abc"Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) species complex in Central and West Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)". Zootaxa. Magnolia Press. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
January 07, 2023
black, forest, cobra, black, forest, cobra, naja, guineensis, species, cobra, genus, naja, that, found, west, africa, scientific, classificationkingdom, animaliaphylum, chordataclass, reptiliaorder, squamatasuborder, serpentesfamily, elapidaegenus, najaspecies. The black forest cobra Naja guineensis is a species of cobra in the genus Naja that is found in West Africa Black forest cobraScientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ElapidaeGenus NajaSpecies N guineensisBinomial nameNaja guineensis Broadley Trape Chirio Ineich amp Wuster in Wuster et al 2018 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 1 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 EditAdults 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 1 Distribution EditThe 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 1 References Edit a b c Integration of nuclear and mitochondrial gene sequences and morphology reveals unexpected diversity in the forest cobra Naja melanoleuca species complex in Central and West Africa Serpentes Elapidae Zootaxa Magnolia Press Retrieved 28 December 2020 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Black forest cobra amp oldid 1112367295, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
