Venomous 10-foot-long snake found in hills of India and discovered as new species
In the forested hills of southern India, a venomous 10-foot-long snake slithered along the ground. Something about the banded predator caught the attention of nearby scientists — and for good reason.
It turned out to be a new species.
A team of researchers decided to take another look at the king cobra, the world’s longest venomous snake. Scientifically known as Ophiophagus hannah, these massive snakes were generally thought to be widespread across southeastern Asia.
But “despite being undoubtedly one of the most iconic snakes in the world,” scientists had long debated whether king cobras were one species with lots of variation or several different species, according to a study published Oct. 16 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy.
Hoping to settle the debate, researchers spent over eight years tracking down over 150 king cobras from several Asian countries, analyzing their DNA and comparing their appearances. A pattern began to emerge. The king cobras from southern India were genetically and visually distinct.
Researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Ophiophagus kaalinga, or the Western Ghats king cobra.
Western Ghats king cobras are considered “exceptionally large,” reaching 10.5 feet in length, the study said. They have “robust” bodies with “large,” “flattened” heads, “dark red” tongues and fangs.
Seen from above, the new species has a blackish-brown body with several “pale bands,” researchers said and photos show. Seen from below, the snakes have a lighter creamy-yellow belly.
Western Ghats king cobras are a “hill-dwelling species” found in forested lowlands, the study said. They are venomous predators known to eat other snakes, such as pit vipers, and other king cobras.
Generally, king cobra bites are “rare” but, when they occur, often lead to “rapid death in human beings.”
Researchers said they named the new species “kaalinga” after the Kannada word “kali,” meaning “dark” or “black,” and as an abbreviation of the name “Kaalinga Havu,” a reference to the Hindu god Shiva. The new species’ common name refers to the Western Ghats biodiversity region where it was discovered.
So far, Western Ghats king cobras have been found in four states of southern India, including Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu, the study said.
The new species was identified by its DNA, body proportions, coloring and other subtle physical features.
The research team included Indraneil Das, P. Gowri Shankar, Priyanka Swamy, Rhiannon Williams, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, P. Prashanth, Gunanidhi Sahoo, S.P. Vijayakumar, Jacob Höglund, Kartik Shanker, Sushil Dutta, S.R. Ganesh and Wolfgang Wüster.
The team also discovered a second new species in the Philippines: the Luzon king cobra.
This story was originally published October 16, 2024 at 8:55 AM with the headline "Venomous 10-foot-long snake found in hills of India and discovered as new species."
