The generic name Naja is a Latinization of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग), meaning "cobra”.

The specific epithet sagittifera is Latin and means “arrow-bearing” or “carrying arrows”.

Noticeably, despite population separation caused by the Hindu Kush mountains, N. oxiana demonstrates a single evolutionary lineage, suggesting historic rapid range expansion.

[6][7] The Andaman cobra is medium to large sized snake in length, is a heavy bodied snake with long cervical ribs capable of expansion to form a hood when threatened, it may also spit its venom into the eyes, although not as accurately as the true spitting cobras.

Juveniles are glossy black above with a series of narrow, white, irregular cross-bars on body and tail, which show 'A' shape marks when seen from the side.

Eye medium, with round pupil; nostrils large; frontal small; no loreal; 1 preocular in contact with posterior nasal; 3 postoculars; temporals 2+1 or 2+2.

If venom gets into the eye, it can cause intense pain and blindness if left untreated.

Cobras that cause both extensive & local effects, with or without flaccid paralysis, such as Naja kaouthia, generally cause a painful bite, with progressive swelling and, if necrosis develops, there is often discolouration of the skin and/or blistering first.

In addition to these local effects, there may be systemic symptoms, such as headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and less commonly, evidence of mild, sometimes moderate to severe flaccid paralysis.

Ptosis is usually the first sign, followed by ophthalmoplegia, then if it progresses, dysarthria, dysphagia, poor tongue extrusion, drooling, limb weakness, lastly respiratory paralysis.