cobra

A cobra ( pronunciation (help·info)) is a venomous snake, which is a member of the family Elapidae (elapids). The name is short for cobra de capello (or cobra di capello), which is Portuguese for "snake with hood," or "hood-snake." When disturbed, most of these snakes can rear up and spread their neck (or hood) in a characteristic threat display. However, not all snakes referred to as cobras are of the same genus, or even of the same family.