Indonesian cobra (Naja sputatrix)

Sendok Jawa or Javan spitting cobra or Indonesian cobra (Naja sputatrix) is an animal species in Elapidae, a species of cobra that is able to spray toxins through the air towards intruders, has varying colors with a blackish or brown or yellowish tendency and a creamy underside or yellowish.

N. sputatrix has a length of up to 1.85 meters, the head is slightly oblong and slightly larger than the neck, the eyes are medium in size and the pupils are round. The scales on the dorsal are arranged as many as 25-19-15 rows, elliptical, large and prominent.

The color varies according to the distribution area, tends to be blackish or brownish or yellowish with a light color where the scales meet and has no markings or marks on the neck. The underside of the body is creamy or yellowish or whitish.

Indonesian cobra lives at low elevations up to 600 meters. Its main habitat is rainforest, but can also be found in dry areas and agricultural lands. The main food is mice, snakes, lizards, and several types of frogs.

Like other types of cobra in self-defense by raising its head and spreading its neck to form a hood or spoon when irritated. Javan spitting cobra is also capable of spraying poison right into the eye of the intruder which causes blindness.

Females produce 13-19 eggs in the dry season from August to October. The eggs are laid into a nest and will hatch after 88 days of incubation. Babies are 24-28 cm long and are completely independent from birth.

Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: Naja sputatrix

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