Smallest true cobra

The smallest species of true cobra is the Mozambique spitting cobra Naja mossambica, which even as a fully grown adult can measure as little as 90 cm in length, with the largest specimen on record only measuring a mere 154 cm. This latter specimen was recorded in Durban, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. This cobra is one of the most common but also one of the most dangerous snakes in tropical and subtropical Africa.

Like other spitting cobras, this species spits streams of venom at the eyes of any creature or person that it perceives as a threat. It will rear up to two-thirds of its total body length in order to do so, and can spit its venom with great accuracy at objects as far away as 3 metres, with the venom causing impaired vision or even total blindness if hitting its potential antagonist's eyes.