​This family consists of about 100 venomous species, including the cobras.  Members of this family are equipped with an anterior pair of grooved rigid fangs located on a fixed maxillary. Beyond the fangs none or a few teeth may present; fangs almost entirely tubular; proteroglyphous, with well developed venom apparatus. Most species do not possess a loreal; oviparous. In Jordan, this family is represented by one genus (Walterinnesia) and one species (Walterinnesia aegyptia).

Figure (2) Walterinnesia aegyptia Lataste, 1887      

Common name: Black Desert Cobra, Walter Innes’s Snake, Innes’ Cobra.

Diagnosis. A stout snake with a small head slightly distinct from neck, with large shields dorsally, and a short tail. Proteroglyphous. The fixed grooved fangs positioned near the front corner of the mouth under each nostril and in front of the eye. Rostral broader than deep. Internasals same length as prefrontals. Frontal length more than its width. Posterior nasal in contact with single preocular; two postoculars, one subocular. Temporals 2+3; posterior temporals 3/3. Seven upper labials, the 3^rd and 4^th enter the eye. Nine lower labials, first four in contact with the anterior chin shield. Scale rows at midbody 21-23, 180-200 ventrals, 40-53 subcaudals, first 1-22 single, remainder paired. Anal divided.  Sexual dimorphism is expressed in both males and females of W. aegyptia. Males have fewer ventrals, 178-190, than females, 191-210; males have more subcaudals )42-50 (than females (39-48), also males have more undivided subcaudals (4-22) than females (1-5). The largest measured specimen from Jordan was 110 cm. Colouration: Dorsal body is uniformly shiny black and bluish black ventrally.

Habitats and ecology. The Black Desert Cobra was found in all types of habitats in Jordan. It was found in extreme desert habitats in the eastern desert and Wadi ‘Araba, as well as in mountain ranges near Al Karak and As Salt areas. In the last two decades a considerable increase in the number of the Black Desert Snakes were encountered. This increase is associated with the expansion of agricultural settlements in the Eastern Desert and Wadi ‘Araba resulting in an increase in number and range of distribution of the Green Toad (Amr and Disi, 2011). The authors believes that this species is a follower of agriculture, toads inhabiting the newly established farms in the Eastern Desert may attract this snake since it constitutes one of its major food items in Jordan. This fossorial elapid was found frequently as road-kills in Wadi ‘Araba.  Gaspertti (1988) stated that it is a rare or rarely seen in Arabia. It is highly secretive spending most of its time in mammal burrows or those of the large spiny-tailed lizard (Leviton et al., 1992).

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