King cobras actually consist of four species, scientists confirm after years of research.
A study has confirmed that the iconic king cobra, previously thought to be a single species, is actually a group of four separate species. This revelation puts an end to a mystery that has puzzled scientists for more than 188 years. The new findings mark a significant advance in the understanding of the world’s longest venomous snake. For almost two centuries, the king cobra was believed to be one species: Ophiophagus hannah.
The new findings, published in the European Journal of Taxonomy on October 16, claims that scientists began to question this assumption due to noticeable differences in the snake’s physical characteristics, including color patterns, in different regions. In 2021, genetic research revealed several genetic lineages among king cobra populations. The latest study, led by Gowri Shankar Pogiri, founder of the Kalinga Foundation and director of the Kalinga Center for Rainforest Ecology, combined genetic findings with physical characteristics from museum specimens to identify the four species.
Four newly identified species
The four newly recognized species include 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 northern king cobra does found in northern India, Myanmar and Indochina, while the Sunda species is native to the Malay Peninsula and several islands. The Western Ghats king cobra is exclusive to the Western Ghats in India, and the Luzon king cobra is in the northern Philippines.
Researchers also observed unique body patterns and characteristics between these species. For example, the Sunda king cobra often lacks bands or has narrow, pale bands with dark edges, while the Western Ghats king cobra has bands without dark edges. The Luzon king cobra is distinguishable by angular, pale body bands.
Implications for poison research
The discovery of these four species has important implications for antivenom research. Since all king cobra species are venomous, this could lead to more targeted development of antivenom, tailored to the specific venom of each species in their respective regions. Scientists, including Pogiri, suggest there may still be undiscovered species, especially on isolated islands, and studies are still ongoing.
