Egyptian cobras range across most of North Africa north of the Sahara, across West Africa to the south of the Sahara, south to the Congo basin and east to Kenya and Tanzania. Egyptian cobras are active foragers sometimes entering human habitations, especially when hunting domestic fowl. These cobras do also occur in the presence of humans where they often enter houses. Older literature records from southern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula refer to other species (see Taxonomy section below). The Egyptian cobra was represented in Egyptian mythology by the cobra-headed goddess Meretseger. Egyptian cobras from northwestern Africa (Morocco, Western Sahara) are almost entirely black. This iconography was continued through the Ptolemaic Kingdom (305 BC–30 BC). Egyptian cobras live in any habitat where there is a good supply of food. Egyptian cobras range across most of North Africa north of the Sahara, across West Africa to the south of the Sahara, south to the Congo basin and east to Kenya and Tanzania. The head of this snake is large and depressed and slightly distinct from the neck. This "aspis" was far more likely to be Naja haje (the Egyptian cobra) than any other type of snake. On March 26, 2011, the Bronx Zoo informed the public that their reptile house was closed after a venomous adolescent female banded Egyptian cobra was discovered missing from its off-exhibit enclosure on March 25. This species is frequently found near water. These cobras do also occur in the presence of humans where they often enter houses. They occur in a wide variety of habitats like, steppes, dry to moist savannas, arid semi-desert regions with some water and vegetation. It also occurs in the presence of humans where it often enter houses. Little is known about the mating habits in Egyptian cobras. Specimens from northwestern Africa (Morocco, western Sahara) are almost entirely black. Zoo officials were confident the missing cobra would be found in the building and not outside, since the Egyptian cobra is known to be uncomfortable in open areas. The Egyptian cobra is one of the largest cobras of the African continent. There are also notes of Egyptian cobras swimming in the Mediterranean sea. They make their shelters in abandoned animal burrows, termite mounds or rock outcrops. The length of the Egyptian cobra is largely dependent on subspecies, geographical locale, and population. Little information is known if this species faces any major threats. It is one of the largest Naja species in Africa. They have an excellent sense of smell and night vision. The Egyptian cobra (naja haje) is a type of poisonous cobra. They are attracted to the human villages by chickens and rats that are attracted by garbage. The snout of the Egyptian cobra is moderately broad and rounded. Cobras are Elapids, a type of poisonous snake with hollow fangs fixed to the top jaw at the front of the mouth. The ventral side is mostly a creamy white, yellow-brown, grayish, blue-grey, dark brown or black in coloration, often with dark spots. The specific name the Egyptian cobra "haje" is the translation from the Arabic word hayya (حية) which literally means "snake". This species is frequently found near water. The average length of this species is between 1 and 2 metres (3.3 and 6.6 ft) in length, with a maximum length of just under 3 metres (9.8 ft). The snake's metabolism would also have been impacted by the cold weather outdoors at that time in the Bronx. Envenomation causes local pain, severe swelling, bruising, blistering, necrosis and variable non-specific effects which may include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, collapse or convulsions along with possible moderate to severe flaccid paralysis. It was worshiped by the Ancient Egyptians. They are attracted to villages by rodent pests (rats) and domestic chickens. Some are more copper-red or grey-brown in colour. The Egyptian cobra is also found in agricultural fields and scrub vegetation. Habitat: The cobra makes its home in areas that are dry to moist with some vegetation such as savanna and semi-desert areas.