AnimalsThe Indian cobra, or spectacled cobra, spreads a hood that carries a mark like a pair of spectacles. It eats rats, frogs and other small animals, and so is often found near grain stores and houses. Its bite is dangerous and needs hospital treatment at once.
Quick facts
- Scientific name
- Naja naja
- Group
- Reptiles
- Diet
- Carnivore (eats other animals)
- Lives in
- South Asia
- Habitat
- Fields, forests and villages
- A young one is called
- hatchling
- A group is called
- no special name
- Conservation status
- Least Concern
How it is classified
Scientists sort living things into groups within groups. Reading down, each step is a smaller group, ending with the species itself.
- Kingdom Animalia
- Phylum Chordata
- Class Reptilia
- Order Squamata
- Family Elapidae
- Genus Naja
- Species Naja naja
Other members of the family Elapidae on this site: king cobra.
More distant relatives in the order Squamata: common house gecko, Indian python, Komodo dragon, veiled chameleon.
Classification follows the GBIF Backbone Taxonomy. Other reference works arrange some groups differently. How classification works.
Is it in danger?
The Indian cobra is listed as Least Concern. The species is widespread or numerous enough that it is not considered at risk of extinction at present.
This is the IUCN Red List category as recorded in Wikidata on 11 November 2026. The IUCN Red List itself is the authority and may carry a newer assessment. What the categories mean.