The generic name, Naja, is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग), meaning "cobra". The specific epithet, ashei, honors the late James Ashe,[3] who founded the Bio-Ken Snake Farm and was one of the first experts to suggest N. ashei was a new species.[4][5] Differences from other spitting cobras were realized in the 1960s, but N. ashei was initially regarded by most as merely a brown-coloured form of the black-necked spitting cobra (N. nigricollis). Thus, N. ashei was only classified as a distinct species in 2007, by Wolfgang Wüster (Bangor University, Wales) and Donald Broadley (Biodiversity Foundation for Africa). Royjan Taylor (Director of the Bio-Ken Snake Farm in Watamu, Kenya) was instrumental in providing specimens, among them the holotype.
The giant spitting cobra is most closely related to the Mozambique spitting cobra (N. mossambica), which with this species forms a sister taxon to N. nigricollis.[4]
Description
Naja ashei, the largest spitting cobra, averages around 1.3–2.0 m (4.3–6.6 ft) in total length (including tail). The largest specimen of this species to date, caught in Kenya, was 2.7 m (8.9 ft) in total length.[3][6] Some N. nigricollis may also reach such sizes, but this is very exceptional, whereas on the Kenyan coast, specimens of N. ashei of more than 2 m (6.6 ft) are not uncommon.[4]
This Naja species is very heavily built with a big head. It's an very aggressive spitting cobra that doesn't hesitate to spit when it feels cornered. It may also spit in copious amounts for hours without running out of venom immediately to spit. Its colour varies in different shades of brown from light grey through pale mustard to dark brown. It is pale in colour along the belly, sometimes with slight speckling or blotches, with a dark brown throat band. It has 17 to 25 midbody dorsal scale rows, 176 to 219 ventrals, and 51 to 69 subcaudals, with an entire anal scale across the vent.[4]
Distribution and habitat
The giant spitting cobra is found in eastern and northeastern Africa, in the dry lowlands of northern and eastern Kenya and similar habitats in northeastern Uganda, southern Ethiopia and southern Somalia.[4]
Venom
The venom of N. ashei is very similar in composition to that of other spitting cobras, including the black-necked spitting cobra (N. nigricollis) and the red spitting cobra (N. pallida), which are both found in the same areas. It consists of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cytotoxins. However, N. ashei is capable of injecting a much larger volume of venom in a single bite compared to the others. A single specimen milked at Bio-Ken Snake Farm in 2004 produced a wet venom yield of 6.2 ml, weighed 7.1 g and contained nearly 3 g of toxins.[4]
In absence of dedicated research, recommended treatment of bites is, as for all true cobras, with the appropriate antivenom (SAVP polyvalent from South African Vaccine Producers). The dosage may need to be higher than for the average N. nigricollis bite. First aid treatment for venom in the eyes is immediate irrigation with water or any bland liquid - failure to do so may result in permanent blindness. Whether bitten or spat at, the patient should be seen as soon as possible by a physician. No available data suggest this species' toxins differ clinically from those of other spitting cobras, except perhaps by the effects of greater dosages, on average. Spitting cobra venom has rather low systemic toxicity, meaning with appropriate treatment, survival of bitten persons is very likely. A strong necrotizing effect (kills tissue around the wound) means survivors may be disfigured.[4] If a jet of venom gets into the eyes and is not treated immediately, blindness (due to destruction of the cornea) is likely; even in patients treated with antivenom, amputation may become necessary if a full dose of a large spitting cobra's venom is received.
References
^Spawls, S.; Malonza, P.; Beraduccii, J. (2021). "Naja ashei". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2021: e.T20878760A20878765. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2021-1.RLTS.T20878760A20878765.en. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
^"Naja ashei WÜSTER & BROADLEY, 2007". The Reptile Database. www.reptile-database.org. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
^ abc"Record-size spitting cobra discovered". Reuters. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
^ abcdefgWüster, Wolfgang; Broadley, Donald G. (2007). "Get an eyeful of this: a new species of giant spitting cobra from eastern and north-eastern Africa (Squamata: Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja)" (PDF). Zootaxa. 1532 (1): 51–68. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.1532.1.4. (Naja ashei, new species).
^Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN978-1-4214-0135-5. (Naja ashei, p. 12).
^Wadhams, Nicholas. "Largest Spitting Cobra Found -- New Species". National Geographic News. National Geographic. Retrieved 14 January 2012.
External links
The Reptile Database: Naja ashei.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naja ashei.
Wikispecies has information related to Naja ashei.
January 07, 2023
naja, ashei, commonly, known, ashe, spitting, cobra, giant, spitting, cobra, species, venomous, snake, family, elapidae, species, native, africa, world, largest, species, spitting, cobra, conservation, statusleast, concern, iucn, scientific, classificationking. Naja ashei commonly known as Ashe s spitting cobra or the giant spitting cobra is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae The species is native to Africa It is the world s largest species of spitting cobra 3 Naja asheiConservation statusLeast Concern IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ElapidaeGenus NajaSubgenus AfronajaSpecies N asheiBinomial nameNaja asheiWuster amp Broadley 2007 2 Contents 1 Etymology and taxonomy 2 Description 3 Distribution and habitat 4 Venom 5 References 6 External linksEtymology and taxonomy EditThe generic name Naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word naga न ग meaning cobra The specific epithet ashei honors the late James Ashe 3 who founded the Bio Ken Snake Farm and was one of the first experts to suggest N ashei was a new species 4 5 Differences from other spitting cobras were realized in the 1960s but N ashei was initially regarded by most as merely a brown coloured form of the black necked spitting cobra N nigricollis Thus N ashei was only classified as a distinct species in 2007 by Wolfgang Wuster Bangor University Wales and Donald Broadley Biodiversity Foundation for Africa Royjan Taylor Director of the Bio Ken Snake Farm in Watamu Kenya was instrumental in providing specimens among them the holotype The giant spitting cobra is most closely related to the Mozambique spitting cobra N mossambica which with this species forms a sister taxon to N nigricollis 4 Description EditNaja ashei the largest spitting cobra averages around 1 3 2 0 m 4 3 6 6 ft in total length including tail The largest specimen of this species to date caught in Kenya was 2 7 m 8 9 ft in total length 3 6 Some N nigricollis may also reach such sizes but this is very exceptional whereas on the Kenyan coast specimens of N ashei of more than 2 m 6 6 ft are not uncommon 4 This Naja species is very heavily built with a big head It s an very aggressive spitting cobra that doesn t hesitate to spit when it feels cornered It may also spit in copious amounts for hours without running out of venom immediately to spit Its colour varies in different shades of brown from light grey through pale mustard to dark brown It is pale in colour along the belly sometimes with slight speckling or blotches with a dark brown throat band It has 17 to 25 midbody dorsal scale rows 176 to 219 ventrals and 51 to 69 subcaudals with an entire anal scale across the vent 4 Distribution and habitat EditThe giant spitting cobra is found in eastern and northeastern Africa in the dry lowlands of northern and eastern Kenya and similar habitats in northeastern Uganda southern Ethiopia and southern Somalia 4 Venom EditThe venom of N ashei is very similar in composition to that of other spitting cobras including the black necked spitting cobra N nigricollis and the red spitting cobra N pallida which are both found in the same areas It consists of postsynaptic neurotoxins and cytotoxins However N ashei is capable of injecting a much larger volume of venom in a single bite compared to the others A single specimen milked at Bio Ken Snake Farm in 2004 produced a wet venom yield of 6 2 ml weighed 7 1 g and contained nearly 3 g of toxins 4 In absence of dedicated research recommended treatment of bites is as for all true cobras with the appropriate antivenom SAVP polyvalent from South African Vaccine Producers The dosage may need to be higher than for the average N nigricollis bite First aid treatment for venom in the eyes is immediate irrigation with water or any bland liquid failure to do so may result in permanent blindness Whether bitten or spat at the patient should be seen as soon as possible by a physician No available data suggest this species toxins differ clinically from those of other spitting cobras except perhaps by the effects of greater dosages on average Spitting cobra venom has rather low systemic toxicity meaning with appropriate treatment survival of bitten persons is very likely A strong necrotizing effect kills tissue around the wound means survivors may be disfigured 4 If a jet of venom gets into the eyes and is not treated immediately blindness due to destruction of the cornea is likely even in patients treated with antivenom amputation may become necessary if a full dose of a large spitting cobra s venom is received References Edit Spawls S Malonza P Beraduccii J 2021 Naja ashei IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2021 e T20878760A20878765 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2021 1 RLTS T20878760A20878765 en Retrieved 19 November 2021 Naja ashei WUSTER amp BROADLEY 2007 The Reptile Database www reptile database org Retrieved 14 January 2012 a b c Record size spitting cobra discovered Reuters Retrieved 14 January 2012 a b c d e f g Wuster Wolfgang Broadley Donald G 2007 Get an eyeful of this a new species of giant spitting cobra from eastern and north eastern Africa Squamata Serpentes Elapidae Naja PDF Zootaxa 1532 1 51 68 doi 10 11646 zootaxa 1532 1 4 Naja ashei new species Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Naja ashei p 12 Wadhams Nicholas Largest Spitting Cobra Found New Species National Geographic News National Geographic Retrieved 14 January 2012 External links EditThe Reptile Database Naja ashei Wikimedia Commons has media related to Naja ashei Wikispecies has information related to Naja ashei Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Naja ashei amp oldid 1055981580, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
