Suborder Serpentes Subfamily Elapinae Phylum Chordata Rank Genus | Subphylum Vertebrata Scientific name Boulengerina Higher classification Elapidae Order Scaled reptiles | |
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Similar Snake, Naja annulata, Elapidae, Pseudohaje, Aspidelaps | ||
Boulengerina is a genus or subgenus of elapid snakes known commonly as water cobras, so named because of their semi-aquatic nature. The genus was recognised to have two species, which are found in central and southern Africa. Some recent molecular studies have suggested that the genus Boulengerina should be synonymised with Naja, because the water cobras are closely related to some species of Naja
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Wallach, Wüster and Broadley, re-ranked Boulengerina as a subgenus within Naja comprising the two species already recognised as forming genus Boulengerina plus Naja melanoleuca, as Naja (Boulengerina) melanoleuca, and the species formerly known as Paranaja multifasciata, now Naja (Boulengerina) multifasciata.
Etymology
The generic name, Boulengerina, is in honor of Belgian-born British herpetologist George Albert Boulenger.