What makes identifying Naja nigricincta in the field challenging for herpetologists?
Answer
The highly varied and striking coloration/patterning
Despite its common name suggesting a simple striped pattern, the actual appearance of *Naja nigricincta* is remarkably diverse across its range. The pattern, which gives rise to the name 'Zebra Snake,' involves alternating dark and light crossbands, but the width, contrast, and specific colors of these bands vary significantly. This high degree of visual variability, compounded by instances of melanism resulting in entirely black individuals, means that field identification is genuinely complicated, often posing difficulties even for seasoned herpetologists trying to distinguish it from closely related species.
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