The Bengal cobra is a large anterior groove-toothed venomous snake. When frightened, the front half of the body is erected, and the neck is flattened and expanded to make an attack. At this time, the back shows a single circle of glasses. It is also the origin of its name Single Cobra.

The body of the Bengal cobra is generally about 1.5m long, Thicker. The head is oval, the neck can be expanded and flattened, the body length is 570-992mm, the tail length is 103-157mm, and the maximum body length can reach 2000mm. Body color dark brown or gray-brown, ventral yellow-white. No cheek scales, 1 preorbital scale, 3 (2) retroorbital scales, 2+3 temporal scales, and 7 (2-2-3) upper lip scales. The dorsal scales are smooth and arranged obliquely, with 27-21-19 rows of dorsal scales, 181-194 ventral scales, complete anal scales, and 46-52 pairs of lower caudal scales.