![](https://www.lstmed.ac.uk/sites/default/files/styles/mc-580-16x9-node/public/content/blog/images/Brown%20forest%20cobra1_0.jpg?itok=MzzOvilS)
This week’s CSRI snake of the week is the Brown forest cobra (Naja subfulva). Forest cobras are the world’s longest true cobras, with some reaching over 3 meters long!
![](/sites/default/files/Brown%20forest%20cobra2.jpg)
The N. subfulva have only been identified as a distinct species in recent years, as forest cobras are visually very similar. A study of their mitochondrial DNA demonstrated there were in fact 5 distinct forest cobra species, which previously had been classified as N. melanoleuca.
The brown forest cobra is a very alert and intelligent species of snake. For more information, check out this story.