Its head is narrow and barely distinct from its neck and the scales are smooth . A large elongated snake with smooth scales , a narrow graceful head and large dark eyes . Its head and body are uniform bright green . Powerful snake with smooth scales and narrow head . It is not black but often dark grey with the texture of pewter .
Some examples are brownish or olive and there are occasionally dark blotches along the back .
The inside of the mouth is black . A thickset snake with keeled scales and a wide head . It is varied in colour and may be marked with black bands on a grey , yellow or orange background , or it may be plain black or dark brown above , sometimes with paler speckles . It rears up and spreads a hood when alarmed . It can spray its venom accurately up to 2.5m , aiming at the face .