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Naja subfulva LAURENT, 1955

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Higher TaxaElapidae, Elapoidea, Caenophidia, Alethinophidia, Serpentes, Squamata (snakes)
Subspecies 
Common NamesE: Brown forest cobra
G: Braune Waldkobra 
SynonymNaja melanoleuca subfulva LAURENT 1955: 132
Naja melanoleuca subfulva — BROADLEY 1962
Naja melanoleuca — BROADLEY 1990: 486
Naja subfulva — CHIRIO & INEICH 2006
Naja melanoleuca subfulva — CHIRIO & LEBRETON 2007
Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca subfulva — BROADLEY & BLAYLOCK 2013
Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca — CONRADIE et al. 2016
Naja (Boulengerina) subfulva — WÜSTER et al. 2018: 85
Naja subfulva — STANDER 2023: 330 
DistributionCentral African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, SE Nigeria, Republic of Congo (Brazzaville), Democratic Republic of the Congo (Kinshasa), Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, (South ?) Sudan, Tanzania, Mozambique, Zambia, Angola, Republic of South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda, Burundi (all based on Wüster et al. 2018: 81), Malawi

Type locality: Lwiro, Kivu, Zaire  
Reproductionoviparous. 
TypesHolotype: RMCA (= MRAC = RGMC = Musée Royal du Congo Belge) 17514; Paratypes: ZFMK 50003 (ex-IRSNB 2.082), MRAC, IRSNB, FMNH. 
DiagnosisDiagnosis: Midbody scale rows 19, except along coastal regions of East Africa (Kenya, Tanzania), where most specimens have 17 rows. Pattern highly variable. Adults of most populations distinguishable in having a brown forebody, often with spots, generally becoming darker or blackish posteriorly. Labial pattern may be attenuated in many adults. Venter with several black, dark brown or greyish crossbands on the first 50 ventrals, gradually becoming uniform black caudad in some populations, but often remaining entirely light, often with extensive darker spotting or speckling. Where present, the light forebody and/or light posterior venter are diagnostic for this species. Generally fewer ventral bands and ventral scales than N. melanoleuca or N. savannula and fewer subcaudals than N. savannula (Table 8). Genetically diagnosable through possession of unique mitochondrial haplotypes (cyt b: GenBank MH337603–633; ND4: MH337409–439) and unique PRLR and UBN1 haplotypes (PRLR: MH337441–471; UBN1: MH337531, MH337536–562, MH337564–566) [Wüster et al. 2018: 85]


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CommentVenomous!

Similar species: Naja melanoleuca has been split up into 4 species by Wüster et al. 2018, namely N. melanoleuca s. str., N. guineensis, N. savannula, and N. subfulva, all of which are variable and partly sympatric. See also N. melanoleuca.

Distribution: see map in Wüster et al. 2018: 81, Fig. 6 
EtymologyNamed after Latin sub (under, somewhat) and Latin fulvus for fulvous or tawny underneath. Apparently in reference to the coloration of its head, neck, and front half of the body. 
References
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