Naja subfulva
Silhouette: V. Deepak · PhyloPic
In 3 days ~40% in a week ~70%
The brown forest cobra (Naja subfulva) is a species of cobra in the genus Naja that is found in Central and East Africa. This species was long thought to be either identical to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca), or a subspecies thereof, but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species. It differs from Naja melanoleuca and other forest cobras in usually having a brownish forebody, often with darker spots, and often a light ventral side and attenuated ventral banding.
Adults of most populations have a brown forebody, gradually turning black towards the tail, often with spotting or mottling in the lighter parts. Adults from the Lake Victoria area and parts of the Congo Basin are entirely black dorsally. The sides and underside of the head are light, usually cream-coloured, and the labial scales have dark edges, although these can be indistinct in some populations. Ventral side may turn black posteriorly, or be light throughout. Dorsals at midbody in 17 scale rows along the East African coast, 19 elsewhere. Ventrals 197–228, subcaudals 57–70. Maximum recorded length 269 cm.
East and Central Africa, in forests... Wikipedia →
| # | Park | Country | Daily sighting probability |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | iSimangaliso Wetland Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa |
More parks will be added in future updates.
| # | Zoo / Centre | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Philadelphia Zoo | 🇺🇸 United States | |
| 2 | Hartbeespoort Dam Snake and Animal Park | 🇿🇦 South Africa | |
| 3 | Virginia Aquarium | 🇺🇸 United States |
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Forest Cobra sighting in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, based on 30 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data from 2019 to 2026. It is the 13th most-seen of the 43 reptiles we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 40%, and over a week to about 70%, if each day is a fresh chance.
February, June–August and December
In those months about 20% of wildlife watchers report a Brown Forest Cobra in iSimangaliso Wetland Park on a given day, against under 5% in May and September, the lowest months.
Between 8 and 11 am
Across all the parks we cover, that three-hour window holds the most Brown Forest Cobra sightings with a recorded time, and about 9 in 10 of them come between 6 am and 6 pm: it is a daytime animal.
Only iSimangaliso Wetland Park, in our data
iSimangaliso Wetland Park is the only park on Wallace's Line with enough records to rate Brown Forest Cobra sightings: about 10% of wildlife watchers there report one on a given day.
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the Brown Forest Cobra is recorded against all the reptiles logged in iSimangaliso Wetland Park (30 verified sightings from 2019 to 2026), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
