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Definition of south american water cobra

south american water cobra

Plural:South American water cobras
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• noun

1

A colloquial or common name typically referring to the false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas), a large, semi-aquatic, rear-fanged colubrid snake native to South America that flattens its neck to form a hood when threatened.

Example

"While exploring the wetlands of the Brazilian Pantanal, the herpetologist documented a South American water cobra hunting amphibians in the shallow marsh."

Word Nuance & Usage

True cobras (genus Naja) are entirely absent from the Americas; this term is a common misnomer referring to the false water cobra (Hydrodynastes gigas), named for its defensive display of flattening its neck into a pseudo-hood.

• Nearby Words

south african
south american bushmaster
south american rattlesnake
south american water cobra
south korea
south korean
south saskatchewan

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of South american water cobra. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/south-american-water-cobra
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