DIFFERENT MORPHS OF HOOD OF INDIAN COBRA NAJA NAJA FROM TAHSIL INDAPUR, DIST. PUNE, MAHARASHTRA, INDIA

During the period of 1991-2022, rescued 481 Indian cobra (Naja naja) snakes from the different areas of Indapur tahsil and released into the forest area at the location suggested by forest authorities at each time. Colouration of the ‘spectacled cobra’ or binocellate cobra is yellowish, brownish or black above, with or without a black and mark on hood, a black and white spot on the inside of the hood with one or two black crossbars below hood. In Naja naja, at rest, the ribs lie along the length of the body, the overlying skin is loosely attached.When erect the dorsal side skin is streched, making the hood more conspicuous, and the head, bent strongly at the atlas (1^st) vertebra, is carried at right angles to the hood. The hood of Naja naja when dialated is diagnostic, more so when the markings are visible