The many-banded snake (Naja multifasciata), also known commonly as the burrowing cobra is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is native to central Africa. There are three recognized subspecies. Geographic range N. multifasciata is found in Angola, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, and the Republic of Congo. Habitat The preferred natural habitat of N. multifasciata is marshy areas of forest, at elevations up to . Description Despite one of its common names, many-banded snake, the species is not actually banded, but overall iridescent black, with cream-colored blotching on each dorsal scale. N. multifasciata may grow to a total length (including tail) of approximately . It does not produce a hood as other cobras do. Venom Not much is known about the venom of N. multifasciata, but it is likely a neurotoxin like that of many other elapid snakes. Reproduction N. multifasciata is oviparous. Taxonomy The genus Paranaja was synonymised with Naja in a recent molecular phylogenetic study, as this species is closely related to the forest cobra (Naja melanoleuca) Subspecies Three subspecies are recognized as being valid, including the nominotypical subspecies. Naja multifasciata anomala Sternfeld, 1917 Naja multifasciata duttoni (Boulenger, 1904) Naja multifasciata multifasciata (F. Werner, 1902) References Further reading Werner F (1902). "Ueber westafrikanische Reptilien ". Verhandlungen der kaiserlich-königlichen zoologisch-botanischen Gesellschaft in Wien 52: 332–348. (Naia multifasciata, new species, p. 347). (in German). Naja Reptiles of Africa Reptiles described in 1902 Taxa named by Franz Werner