Naja

High school (ages 12+)
Animals & Nature

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/naja

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Naja
2. What is the conservation status?Varies by species; includes Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, and Endangered classifications
3. What is a Naja and why do they have a hood?A Naja is a true cobra that has a special hood made from long ribs and loose skin. When it feels scared, it flattens its neck to make the hood look big and scare away predators.
4. How do Naja cobras use their venom?Their venom contains powerful neurotoxins that stop the nervous system and cytotoxins that damage tissues. This lets them quickly knock out small mammals, birds, amphibians, and even other snakes.

Elapid: A family of venomous snakes characterized by fixed front fangs, including cobras and mambas.
Cytotoxins: Poisons that cause tissue damage and cell death.
Herpetofauna: The collective term for reptiles and amphibians in a particular region or habitat.