About Naja sumatrana Müller, 1887
Naja sumatrana is a medium-length cobra species, with an average length between 0.9 to 1.2 metres (3.0 to 3.9 ft), and a maximum recorded length of 1.5 metres (4.9 ft). Its body is compressed dorsoventrally, and becomes sub-cylindrical toward the posterior end. The head is elliptical, depressed, slightly distinct from the neck, with a short rounded snout and large nostrils. Its eyes are medium-sized, with round pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth and strongly oblique. This cobra has no markings on its hood, and its coloration varies by geographical location, with two main color phases. A yellow form is most common in Thailand and Northern Peninsular Malaysia, while a black form occurs in Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore, and the islands this species inhabits in Indonesia and the Philippines. Juveniles and adults of this species also typically have different coloration. This species is distributed across equatorial Southeast Asian countries: Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and the Philippines. In Indonesia, it is confirmed to live on Sumatra, Borneo, Bangka, Belitung, and the Riau Archipelago. It may also be present on nearby Indonesian islands, and remnant populations could still exist in western Java. In the Philippines, it is only found in the Palawan island group, including the Calamian Islands. Naja sumatrana occurs at elevations up to around 1,500 metres (4,900 ft) above sea level, and primarily inhabits primary and secondary tropical forests including dense jungle. It has also been recorded in gardens, parks, and urban areas, where it may encounter humans. It is a terrestrial, mostly diurnal snake. Its diet consists mainly of rodents and frogs, but it will also eat other snakes, lizards, and small mammals. Overall, this species is not overly aggressive, though yellow specimens from Thailand are reported to be highly aggressive, and more likely to spit large quantities of venom without depleting their venom supply. When cornered or threatened, these cobras will readily spit venom even from elevated positions in trees, and will also strike and bite.
