What causes the appearance variation resulting in the "Black Zebra Cobra" form?
Answer
Regional melanism
The visual variation observed within the *Naja nigricincta* population is largely attributed to regional melanism, a condition resulting in an overabundance of dark pigment. In certain geographic areas, individuals exhibit almost entirely jet black coloration, leading to the descriptive nickname 'Black Zebra Cobra.' It is essential to recognize that this uniform black appearance does not signify a separate species; rather, it represents one extreme end of the normal color spectrum for *Naja nigricincta*. Even these melanistic specimens might still exhibit faint remnants of their usual light bands, which may only become visible under bright light or when the snake stretches its body.
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