In the southern region of India, a giant cobra has caught the attention of scientists. Although it was known, the results of the prestigious discovery published in the European Journal of Taxonomy revealed that it is a species never seen before.
Scientists believed they were facing the largest venomous snake in the world. Scientifically known as Ophiophagus hannah, these huge snakes usually live in Southeast Asia.
A Discovery of Over 3 Meters
To reach this conclusion, scientists tracked over 150 king cobras from various Asian countries, analyzed their DNA, and compared their appearances. Genetically and visually, the featured animal was completely different from all other cobras, which led to the idea of a new species gaining credibility. This new cobra species was named Ophiophagus kaalinga, or Western Ghats king cobra, and is exceptionally large.
Characteristics of the giant cobra
This cobra can reach over 10.5 feet in length. It has a robust body with a large flattened head, dark red tongues, and sharp fangs.
Viewed from above, the new species has a body ranging from black to brown, with several pale stripes. From below, the snakes have a stomach color between creamy and yellowish. The Western Ghats king cobra is a venomous predator that devours other snakes, such as vipers and other types of king cobras, and has been located in four states of India.
Danger to Humans
Although attacks by a king cobra are rare, when they occur, they often result in rapid death in humans. This discovery amazed scientists, who also managed to identify another snake species in the Philippines: the Luzon king cobra.
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