Black tree cobra

Black tree cobra
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Pseudohaje
Species:	P. nigra
Binomial name
Pseudohaje nigra Günther, 1858[2][3]
Synonyms
Pseudohaje nigra Günther, 1858 Naia guentheri Boulenger, 1896 Pseudohaje guentheri — Bogert, 1942 Pseudohaje nigra — Laurent, 1954[3]

The black tree cobra (Pseudohaje nigra) is a species of venomous tree cobra found in central and western Africa. This species is one of the two tree cobras in Africa, the other being Goldie's tree cobra (Pseudohaje goldii).

Distribution and habitat

P. nigra is found in Ghana, Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and Togo.^[3]

Description

P. nigra is black dorsally, and brown ventrally. Adults may attain a total length (including tail) of 2.13 m (7.0 ft).^[4]

References

1. "Pseudohaje nigra". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
2. "Pseudohaje nigra". ITIS Standard Report Page. ITIS.gov. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
3. Uetz, Peter. "Pseudohaje nigra GÜNTHER, 1858". The Reptile Database. reptile-database.reptarium.cz. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
4. Boulenger GA. 1896. Catalogue of the Snakes in the British Museum (Natural History). Volume III., Containing the Colubridæ (Opisthoglyphæ and Proteroglyphæ) ... London: Trustees of the British Museum (Natural History). (Taylor and Francis, printers). xiv + 727 pp. + Plates I-XXV. (Naia guentheri, p. 388 + Plate XXI, three views of head).

Further reading

• Günther A. 1858. Catalogue of the Colubrine Snakes in the Collection of the British Museum. London: Trustees of the British Museum. (Taylor and Francis, printers). xvi + 281 pp. (Pseudohaje nigra, new species, p. 222).