Discovery about the deadliest snake on the planet that had not yet revealed all its secrets after 188 years

Historical discovery: The King Cobra is actually four distinct species.

After 188 years of hiding its game, a revolutionary study reveals that the formidable king cobra, so feared by adventurers of all stripes and until now considered as a single species, would in fact be four distinct speciess. This scientific breakthrough, resulting from rigorous analysis of museum specimens, could transform our understanding of the biology of this iconic snake and improve conservation and medical treatment strategies.

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Until recently, the king cobra was classified as a single species, Ophiophagus hannah. However, significant variations in coloration and other physical characteristics across different regions had sowed doubt among scientists about the true diversity within this species. Thanks to a study published in 2021 and recently completed, genetic and physical differences were confirmed, leading to the classification of four distinct species.

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The 4 species of Cobra discovered

The research, which involved the careful examination of 153 museum specimens, distinguished the following four species based on morphological variations such as coloring patterns, body width and dental characteristics:

1. Le cobra royal du nord (O. hannah)widespread from the Himalayas to Indochina and southern Thailand.
2. He charges royal de Sunda (Ophiophagus bungarus)present in the Malay Peninsula and the Greater Sunda Islands.
3. The Western Ghats king cobra (Ophiophagus kaalinga)located only in the Western Ghats of India.
4. It charges you royal de Luzon (Ophiophagus salvatana)which lives exclusively on the island of Luzon in the Philippines.

Implications of the discovery

This precise species identification allows for a better understanding of the geographic distributions and ecological adaptations of the king cobra, thereby facilitating targeted conservation measures. Additionally, distinguishing between species is crucial for the development of more effective antivenom treatments, as each species may have venoms with slightly different properties.

Need for further study

The study also highlights the need for continued research, particularly to explore other regions and potentially discover new species of king cobra. Continued analysis of DNA and physical characteristics will help refine our understanding of these venomous snakes and answer unresolved questions about their ecology and evolution, including why this species is known to be cannibalistic, being capable of eat its fellows.

Consequences for medicine and biodiversity

The recognition of multiple king cobra species has direct implications for medicine, including improving species-specific anti-venoms, which could save lives in affected regions. Furthermore, this discovery enriches our appreciation of biodiversity and highlights the complexity of the evolution of venomous snakes.

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This article presents a major advance in king cobra taxonomy, demonstrating that what was considered a single species is in fact a complex of four distinct species. This discovery, based on extensive genetic and morphological analyzes of museum specimens, has significant implications for conservation, biological research and medicine, transforming our understanding of one of the world's most iconic and venomous snakes.

Source : European Journal of Taxonomy