Post by Ceratodromeus on Apr 2, 2016 23:05:47 GMT 5
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: N.nubiae
Description
Cobras, despite being the most widely recognized snakes, are a taxonomic mess -- with many authors questioning the full species and subspecies status of various animals and populations. The nubian spitting cobra is one of these cases, widely being accepted as a northern variant of the red spitting cobra (N.pallida). However, a detailed scalation and mitchondrial DNA analysis published in the year 2003{1} argued sucessfully for the full species elevation of N.nubiae. The holotype(specimen YPMR 3916) was an adult male measuring 654mm in snout-ventral length, with a tail measuring 134mm. It wascollected from Egypt; other museum specimens, as well as live animals from the London zoo, have been assigned to this species. N.nubiae has a similar number of ventral scales to N.pallida though the former tends to possess more then the latter. Scale configuration was also integral in identifying the nubian spitting cobra as a distinct species.
{1}A new species of spitting cobra (Naja) from north-eastern Africa
(Serpentes: Elapidae)
Abstract
A new species of spitting cobra Naja nubiae sp. nov. is described from north-eastern Africa. The distinctiveness
of the new species is confirmed by multivariate analysis of pattern and scalation data. Phylogenetic analysis of
mitochondrial DNA sequences reveals the new species to be the sister taxon of N. pallida, but with considerable
levels of sequence divergence relative to that species. The populations concerned had previously been assigned
to N. pallida. The new species differs from N. pallida principally in having more than one dark band across the
neck and under the throat, as well as a pair of spots under the throat. It occupies a disjunct range across Egypt, the
Sudan, Chad, Niger and Eritrea, where it seems to occupy primarily relatively mesic habitats. Naja mossambica is
more closely related to N. nigricollis than to N. pallida and the new species. A key to the African species of Naja
is presented.
link to study
