Philippine Cobra

Philippine Cobra
Philippine Cobra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species: N. philippinensis
Binomial name
Naja philippinensis
(Taylor, 1922)[verification needed]

The Philippine Cobra (Naja philippinensis) is a stocky, highly venomous spitting cobra native to the Philippines. The Philippine Cobra is called "ulupong" in Tagalog and "Agwason" in Cebuano-Bisaya.

Contents

Description

The average length of this species is 1.6 metres (5.2 ft). Sub-populations of the species, particularly specimens from Mindoro Island, are known to grow up to 2 metres (6.6 ft) in length (Lutz, M., 2006). It has a fairly stocky build and adult snakes are uniformly light to medium brown, while the juveniles tend to be a darker brown in color. They have 23-27 scale rows around the neck and 21 just above the middle part of the body; 182-193 ventrals, 36-49 subcaudals, and basal pairs are sometimes undivided.

Distribution

The Philippine cobra can be found on the islands of Luzon, Mindoro, Catanduanes, Samar, Eastern Samar, Southern Leyte and Masbate. It is also likely to occur on other neighbouring islands. Records from the Calamianes group and Palawan require confirmation.

Habitat

Philippine Cobra’s habitat include open fields, grasslands, dense jungle, and human settlements.

Diet

The snake feeds predominantly on small mammals. Small rodents such as mice and small rats are their preferred prey and makeup the majority of their diet. However, they also feed on frogs, lizards, small birds and eggs.

Venom

The venom of the Philippine cobra is a potent postsynaptic neurotoxin which affects respiratory function and can cause neurotoxicity and respiratory paralysis, as the neurotoxins interrupt the transmission of nerve signals by binding to the neuro-muscular junctions near the muscles. They are capable of spitting their venom up to 3 metres (9.8 ft). The symptoms of a bite might include headache, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.[1]

The Philippine cobra has the most toxic venom among all of the Naja species. The subcutaneous LD50 for this species is 0.20 mg/kg.[2] In comparison, the corresponding LD50 for Naja naja (Indian cobra) venom is 0.45 mg/kg,[2][3] for Naja haje (Egyptian cobra) venom is 1.15 mg/kg,[2][3] for Naja nigricollis (Black-necked spitting cobra) venom is 2 mg/kg,[2][3] and for Naja nivea (Cape cobra) venom is 0.72 mg/kg.[2][3]

External links

References

  1. ^ Envenomation and Treatment
  2. ^ a b c d e Zug, George R. (1996). Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book. Washington D.C., USA: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. ISBN 1560986484. 
  3. ^ a b c d LD50 Menu (Dr. Bryan Grieg Fry)


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