From UPSC perspective, the following things are important :
Prelims level: King Cobra and its distinct species
Why in the News?
A 12-year study by researchers from the Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology has revealed that the king cobra, previously believed to be a single species, actually comprises four distinct species.
Important facts related to King Cobra:
| Details | |
| About | • Scientific Name: Ophiophagus hannah. • It is the largest Venomous Snake; Reaches up to 18 feet (5.5 meters). • Venom is Neurotoxic, affecting the nervous system. |
| Re-categorization | Kalinga Centre for Rainforest Ecology identified the species as:
Species differ by 1-4% genetically, justifying their reclassification. |
| Habitat and Behavioural Features | • Found in tropical, subtropical, and temperate regions ( India, Sri Lanka, Southeast Asia, and the Philippines) • Solitary and territorial, with a diet of snakes, lizards, birds, and rodents. • Mating occurs annually during monsoon, with females laying up to 40 eggs in nests. • Raises and spreads its hood when threatened, appearing larger. • Vital in controlling snake populations and maintaining ecological balance. |
| Conservation Status |
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PYQ:[2010] King Cobra is the only snake that makes its own nest. Why does it make its nest? (a) It is a snake-eater and the nest helps attract other snakes |
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