The beaked cobra (Naja annulifera) is a highly venomous snake in the cobra family - the genus Cobra.
It is found in northeastern South Africa, southern Mozambique, eastern Botswana, Malawi, Zimbabwe and parts of Eswatini.
The average length of the beaked cobra is 1.2 to 1.8 meters, and extreme individuals can reach a length of 2.5 meters. The dorsal scales vary in color, ranging from yellowish , greyish brown to dark brown or blue-black. The ventral scales are yellow in color with darker spots. The ventral surface is yellow with black inclusions.
The beaked cobra inhabits savannah, especially in bush and low-lying areas. Abandoned termite mounds are often utilized as nests.
It is a nocturnal snake that feeds from dusk. Rest in the nest during the day or bask in the sun near the nest. Females lay eggs in early summer each year, averaging 8 to 33 eggs. The average length of a young snake is 22 to 34 cm.
The beaked cobra preys mainly on toads, rodents, birds, eggs, lizards and other snakes, especially the bulbous viper. The venom component of the beaked cobra is mainly cytotoxin, the neurotoxic content is very low, and it has a strong necrotic ability. The intravenous LD 50 is 1.98 mg/kg, and if left untreated, it is highly likely to lead to respiratory failure, acute kidney injury, and death.