King cobra species in Karnataka officially renamed Ophiophagus Kaalinga

thehindu.com

The king cobra species known as 'Kalinga Sarpa' in Karnataka will officially be named Ophiophagus Kaalinga. This change follows nearly a decade of research that identified four distinct king cobra lineages, including the Western Ghats lineage. Previously classified under a single species, the king cobra was named Ophiophagus hannah in 1836. Genetic studies revealed that the Western Ghats king cobra differs from others in South and Southeast Asia, leading to its new scientific designation. The research may also aid in developing a specific anti-venom for king cobra bites in India. Currently, there is no dedicated anti-venom, as existing treatments are for other venomous snakes.


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