King Cobra

19.11.2024

King Cobra

Why in the news?                        

In ground-breaking research, a well-known wildlife biologist from Agumbe has proved that king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), the longest venomous snake in the world, has four different species.

About King Cobra:

• It is the world’s largest venomous snake and an active hunter.
• The main feature that distinguishes the king cobra from other cobras is the possession of 11 large scales on the crown of its head.
• It preys almost exclusively on other snakes, prowling in forests, fields, and villages in the daytime as well as at night.
• It was in 1836 that a broad spectrum of king cobra species was named as Ophiophagus hannah by Danish naturalist Theodore Edward Cantor.
• The amount of venom that they can deliver in a single bite is enough to kill 10 people or even an elephant.
• The neurotoxin venom of king cobra affects the respiratory centers, causing respiratory arrest and cardiac failure.
• The king cobras are the only snakes in the world to build nests that are 4 ftx 3 ft and the female king cobras are found ferociously guarding them.

The study identified four species of king cobra:

○Ophiophagus kaalinga:Found in the Western Ghats of southwestern India, this species has fewer than 40 bands on its body.

○Ophiophagus hannah: Inhabiting northern and eastern India, the Andaman Islands, eastern Pakistan, Indo-Burma, Indo-China, and Thailand, this species displays 50 to 70 bands.

○Ophiophagus bungarus:Found in the Malay Peninsula, Greater Sunda Islands, and parts of southern Philippines, it features more than 70 bands.

○Ophiophagus salvatana:Native to Luzon in the northern Philippines, this species lacks bands altogether.

Conservation status

○IUCN: Vulnerable

○CITES: Appendix II

• Threats: Their survival is threatened by habitat destruction and exploitation for their skin, food, medicine, and the pet trade.

                                                                  Source: The Hindu

Consider the following statements regarding the King Cobra:

Statement-I:It is the largest venomous snake whose neurotoxin venom causes respiratory arrest and cardiac failure.

Statement-II:It is endemic to the Western Ghats region of India.

Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?

A.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is the correct explanation for Statement-I.

B.Both Statement-I and Statement-II are correct, and Statement-II is not the correct explanation for Statement-I.

C.Statement-I is correct, but Statement-II is incorrect.

D.Statement-I is incorrect, but Statement-II is correct.

Answer C