Martin Nowak
Martin's Snakes
“King cobra mystery that's puzzled scientists for 188 years finally solved”
“Scientists identified four new species of king cobra from 154 museum specimens.”
“In a study published in 2021, scientists confirmed genetic differences among king cobra populations. Building on this research, scientists have now compared physical differences in museum specimens and identified four separate species: the Northern king cobra (O. hannah), the Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus), the Western Ghats king cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga) and the Luzon king cobra (Ophiophagus salvatana). The findings were published Oct. 16 in the European Journal of Taxonomy.”
“Building on this research, the new study looked at the physical differences among 153 museum specimens. An analysis of the specimens' body morphology — including their color patterns, body widths and dental characteristics led the researchers to identify four species corresponding to the genetic lineages found in the 2021 study.”
“The Northern king cobra (O. hannah) is widespread across the sub-Himalayas, eastern India, Myanmar and Indochina, and extends southward to the narrowest part of peninsular Thailand, in Kra Isthmus. Adults have dark-edged yellow bands and between 18 and 21 teeth.”
“The Sunda king cobra (O. bungarus) lives in the Malay Peninsula and the islands of the Greater Sundas — including Sumatra, Borneo and Java — as well as in Mindoro in the Philippines. Large individuals of this species are usually unbanded or have narrow, pale bands with dark edges along the body.”
“The Western Ghats king cobra (O. kaalinga) is restricted to the Western Ghats of the Indian Peninsula. This species differs from O. bungarus in that it does not have dark edges around the pale bands along its body.”
“Like O. kaalinga, the Luzon king cobra (O. salvatana) inhabits Luzon, an island in the northern Philippines. It has extremely angular pale body bands compared with the bands of the three other species.”
“Pogiri believes there may be more unknown king cobra species yet to be discovered on small islands that were not part of this research. "Studying them is already underway," he said.”
https://www.livescience.com/animals...-4E95-AD2E-6D5224172A01&utm_source=SmartBrief
“Scientists identified four new species of king cobra from 154 museum specimens.”
“In a study published in 2021, scientists confirmed genetic differences among king cobra populations. Building on this research, scientists have now compared physical differences in museum specimens and identified four separate species: the Northern king cobra (O. hannah), the Sunda king cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus), the Western Ghats king cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga) and the Luzon king cobra (Ophiophagus salvatana). The findings were published Oct. 16 in the European Journal of Taxonomy.”
“Building on this research, the new study looked at the physical differences among 153 museum specimens. An analysis of the specimens' body morphology — including their color patterns, body widths and dental characteristics led the researchers to identify four species corresponding to the genetic lineages found in the 2021 study.”
“The Northern king cobra (O. hannah) is widespread across the sub-Himalayas, eastern India, Myanmar and Indochina, and extends southward to the narrowest part of peninsular Thailand, in Kra Isthmus. Adults have dark-edged yellow bands and between 18 and 21 teeth.”
“The Sunda king cobra (O. bungarus) lives in the Malay Peninsula and the islands of the Greater Sundas — including Sumatra, Borneo and Java — as well as in Mindoro in the Philippines. Large individuals of this species are usually unbanded or have narrow, pale bands with dark edges along the body.”
“The Western Ghats king cobra (O. kaalinga) is restricted to the Western Ghats of the Indian Peninsula. This species differs from O. bungarus in that it does not have dark edges around the pale bands along its body.”
“Like O. kaalinga, the Luzon king cobra (O. salvatana) inhabits Luzon, an island in the northern Philippines. It has extremely angular pale body bands compared with the bands of the three other species.”
“Pogiri believes there may be more unknown king cobra species yet to be discovered on small islands that were not part of this research. "Studying them is already underway," he said.”
https://www.livescience.com/animals...-4E95-AD2E-6D5224172A01&utm_source=SmartBrief