Naja

''Naja'' is a genus of venomous elapid snakes commonly known as cobras (or "true cobras"). Members of the genus ''Naja'' are the most widespread and the most widely recognized as "true" cobras. Various species occur in regions throughout Africa, Southwest Asia, South Asia, and Southeast Asia. Several other elapid species are also called "cobras", such as the king cobra and the rinkhals, but neither is a true cobra, in that they do not belong to the genus ''Naja'', but instead each belong to monotypic genera ''Hemachatus'' (the rinkhals) and ''Ophiophagus'' (the king cobra/hamadryad).It is one of the Big Four snakes of India.

Until recently, the genus ''Naja'' had 20 to 22 species, but it has undergone several taxonomic revisions in recent years, so sources vary greatly. Wide support exists, though, for a 2009 revision that synonymised the genera ''Boulengerina'' and ''Paranaja'' with ''Naja''. According to that revision, the genus ''Naja'' now includes 38 species.

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