One of the most iconic and historically famous snakes in the world, native to North Africa and parts of the Middle East. With its long, elegant body and the ability to spread a wide hood when threatened, this cobra has been both feared and admired for thousands of years. It’s no coincidence that it appears in ancient Egyptian art and mythology, where it was seen as a symbol of royalty, protection, and deadly power—the cobra on a pharaoh’s crown, known as the uraeus, was almost certainly inspired by this species.

The Egyptian cobra is a powerful predator with a broad diet. It feeds on small mammals, birds, lizards, and even other snakes, using its potent neurotoxic venom to quickly subdue prey. This venom is also dangerous to humans and was well-known in ancient times—legend even has it that Cleopatra used the “asp,” often thought to be the Egyptian cobra, in her famous death. Despite its fearsome reputation, however, the Egyptian cobra is not particularly aggressive. It usually prefers to retreat when disturbed, saving its hood-flaring display and defensive strike for moments when escape isn’t possible.

Unlike some other cobras, the Egyptian cobra does not spit venom, relying instead on its striking bite. Its long history with humans has made it a creature of legend, associated with both divine protection and deadly threat in ancient cultures. Even today, its image remains one of the most recognizable snake symbols in the world. The species is also surprisingly adaptable, sometimes living near villages and farmlands, where it hunts rodents that thrive around human settlements.

Distribution

Country

Population est.

Status

Year

Comments

Algeria

2012

Burkina Faso

2012

Cameroon

2012

Chad

2012

Djibouti

2012

Egypt

2012

Eritrea

2012

Ethiopia

2012

Kenya

2012

Libya

2012

Morocco

2012

Niger

2012

Nigeria

2012

Somalia

2012

South Sudan

2012

Sudan

2012

Tanzania

2012

Tunisia

2012

Uganda

2012