Branch (1981) re-described this species as follows: The largest of southern African cobras, with a maximum recorded size of 2690mm, although most adults average 1.8- 2.1 metres. Of slender build, it is easily distinguishable from other cobras by the highly-polished dorsal scales. The head is blunt and hardly distinct from the neck, and the moderate to small eye has a round pupil. There are 7 upper labials (3rd and 4th entering orbit) and 8 lower labials. Sexual dimorphism in both ventrals (197-226) and paired subcaudals (57-74) is ill-defined, whilst the mid¬ body scales are in 19 (occasionally 17 or 21) rows. The anal is entire. The head and fore-part of body yellowish brown, heavily-flecked in black and occasionally white, that becomes increasingly more dense until the latter half of the body and tail are often uniform black; ventrum bright yellow to creamy-white, heavily blotched with black; some, or all of labials white to yellowish-white, edged with black (from which it derives its other common name—black-and white-lipped cobra).

Dorsum black, often with 1–3 semi divided yellow crossbands on the neck, the first may be an ocellus; venter yellow with 4 to 6 black bands in the first 100 ventrals, thereafter uniform black (Wüster et al., 2018).

Type locality: Gabon Syntypes: ANSP 6875-76 (2) Syntypes: ZMH R12168, ZMH R12169, ZMH R12170 (given as nos 7299, 7300, 7302 in Fischer 1885) [leucosticta]

This information was extracted from Tolley et al. (2023): Phylogenetic analyses together with morphological data has clarified the long-standing taxonomic uncertainty surrounding the widespread N. melanoleuca species complex, which now contains five species (Ceríaco et al., 2017; Wüster et al., 2018). The previously widespread N. melanoleuca is restricted to central Africa, N. guineensis occurs along the southern margin of West Africa, N. savannula occurs in the Savanna of western and central Africa, N. peroescobari is endemic to the island of São Tomé and N. subfulva is widespread from central to northeast Africa and southwards to Angola in the west and South Africa in the east. The full range of morphological variation within N. subfulva, the most wide-ranging member of the complex, has not been investigated, and cryptic diversity may exist within this taxon (Wüster et al., 2018).

Angola, Burundi, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

This species occurs across southern Africa, and extends northward. In South Africa, this species occurs in coastal KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, but there are isolated records at Pafuri River Camp in the Kruger National Park (Marais and Jubber, 2010) and in the southern Soutpansberg, suggesting that the species may extend inland along the Luvuvhu River (Tolley et al., 2023).

Snakes have no limbs; instead their long backbones with many articulated ribs are used for locomotion (Branch, 1998). Engaging the muscles attached to these rib bones allows snakes to move in a typical slither fashion, but it also enables them to swim and climb. They use an undulating, side-to-side movement ('S' pattern or serpentine).

Carnivore-mammals, birds, reptiles& Fish.

This species has a varied diet, feeding on small vertebrates, even fish (Branch, 1998).

Males have been observed in combat during the breeding season (Branch, 1998). This species is oviparous, with females laying 15-26 large eggs in leaf litter and hollow logs that hatch after an incubation period of 75-91 days (Branch, 1998).

This species is fond of water. It is crepuscular and more active on overcast days than the Snouted Cobra. It is very alert and is rarely cornered, but will spread a narrow hood and bite if threatened. Apart from such instances, it rarely bites non-prey and no deaths have been recorded locally (Branch, 1998).

Savanna, Forest