The Mandalay spitting cobra (Naja mandalayensis), also called the Burmese spitting cobra or Mandalay cobra, is a species of spitting cobra endemic to the dry zone in central Myanmar.[1]
Naja mandalayensis was first described by herpetologists Wolfgang Wüster and Joseph Bruno Slowinski in 2000.[5] The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग) meaning "cobra".[6] The specific epithet mandalayensis is Latin and refers to the city of Mandalay, which is a major city within the range of Naja mandalayensis.[5]
Description
This species of cobra is medium in length, and heavy bodied. The average length of an adult ranges from 1 to 1.2 m (3.3 to 3.9 ft); they can grow to 1.4 m (4.6 ft). The head is elliptical, depressed, slightly distinct from the neck with a short, rounded snout and large nostrils. The body is compressed dorsoventrally and subcylindrical posteriorly. Its scales are smooth and strongly oblique. The eyes are moderate in size with round pupils. The body of this species is yellowish-brown to dull brown, with darker brownish mottling. The belly is pale with some dark speckling. Specimens are often dark under the chin and throat, followed by a more pale clear area, then by 2 or 3 dark bands across the venter of the hood. This species has no obvious markings on dorsum of the hood, although a spectacle-shaped hood mark may be present, especially in some juveniles. Like other spitting cobra species, they possess a pair of fixed front upper fangs that are highly modified for "spitting" venom.[5]
Geographic distribution
This species is endemic to the central dry zone of Myanmar, spanning the Mandalay, Magway, and Sagaing Divisions. The central dry zone is a well defined area with a characteristic climate, and an extent of less than 20,000 km2. The few known records of this snake have been taken from areas throughout this general region, and it has an estimated range of approximately 18,500 km2 based on recorded data.[5]
Habitat
This species occurs in the central dry zone of Myanmar, an area that receives less than 1,000 mm (39 in) of rain annually. The area is made up of acacia and stunted dipterocarpaceae savannas, although the area is being intensively utilized for agricultural purposes. Mandalay spitting cobra specimens have been collected in dry forests and dry acacia habitat.[5]
Behaviour and diet
This species of cobra is predominantly nocturnal, hunting at dusk or night. They spend the daylight hours being mostly stationary or basking in the sun.[7] The spitting behaviour of this species is said to be similar to that of the Indochinese spitting cobra (N. siamensis) based on anecdotal observations made by herpetologists. Mandalay spitting cobras are alert and defensive snakes, quickly raising their forebodies and spreading a broad hood when faced with a threat. Very little provocation is required to cause them to spit. The venom can be efficiently expelled at least 2 m (6.6 ft) in distance. In addition to spitting, this species will often also charge forward towards the threat while hissing loudly.[5]
It preys mainly on toads and frogs but will also take other snakes, small mammals and occasionally even fish.[8]
Venom
Nothing is known about the venom of this particular species. However, as a species of spitting cobra the venom likely has a cytotoxic and post-synaptic neurotoxic properties.[7]
References
^ abWogan, G.; Stuart, B. (2012). "Naja mandalayensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T192227A2058297. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012-1.RLTS.T192227A2058297.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
^ abcdefSlowinski, J.B.; Wüster, W. (2000). "A New Cobra (Elapidae: Naja) from Myanmar (Burma)" (PDF). Herpetologica. 56 (2): 257–270. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
^"Naja". The Free Dictionary. Princeton University. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
^ ab. Armed Forces Pest Management Board. United States Department of Defense. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
^"Naja mandalayensis". Clinical Toxinology Resource. University of Adelaide, Australia. Retrieved 30 December 2014.
External links
Encyclopedia of Life
January 07, 2023
mandalay, spitting, cobra, naja, mandalayensis, also, called, burmese, spitting, cobra, mandalay, cobra, species, spitting, cobra, endemic, zone, central, myanmar, conservation, statusvulnerable, iucn, cites, appendix, cites, scientific, classificationkingdom,. The Mandalay spitting cobra Naja mandalayensis also called the Burmese spitting cobra or Mandalay cobra is a species of spitting cobra endemic to the dry zone in central Myanmar 1 Mandalay spitting cobraConservation statusVulnerable IUCN 3 1 1 CITES Appendix II CITES 2 Scientific classificationKingdom AnimaliaPhylum ChordataClass ReptiliaOrder SquamataSuborder SerpentesFamily ElapidaeGenus NajaLaurenti 1768 4 Species N mandalayensisBinomial nameNaja mandalayensisSlowinski amp Wuster 2000 3 Contents 1 Etymology 2 Description 3 Geographic distribution 4 Habitat 5 Behaviour and diet 6 Venom 7 References 8 External linksEtymology EditNaja mandalayensis was first described by herpetologists Wolfgang Wuster and Joseph Bruno Slowinski in 2000 5 The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word naga न ग meaning cobra 6 The specific epithet mandalayensis is Latin and refers to the city of Mandalay which is a major city within the range of Naja mandalayensis 5 Description EditThis species of cobra is medium in length and heavy bodied The average length of an adult ranges from 1 to 1 2 m 3 3 to 3 9 ft they can grow to 1 4 m 4 6 ft The head is elliptical depressed slightly distinct from the neck with a short rounded snout and large nostrils The body is compressed dorsoventrally and subcylindrical posteriorly Its scales are smooth and strongly oblique The eyes are moderate in size with round pupils The body of this species is yellowish brown to dull brown with darker brownish mottling The belly is pale with some dark speckling Specimens are often dark under the chin and throat followed by a more pale clear area then by 2 or 3 dark bands across the venter of the hood This species has no obvious markings on dorsum of the hood although a spectacle shaped hood mark may be present especially in some juveniles Like other spitting cobra species they possess a pair of fixed front upper fangs that are highly modified for spitting venom 5 Geographic distribution EditThis species is endemic to the central dry zone of Myanmar spanning the Mandalay Magway and Sagaing Divisions The central dry zone is a well defined area with a characteristic climate and an extent of less than 20 000 km2 The few known records of this snake have been taken from areas throughout this general region and it has an estimated range of approximately 18 500 km2 based on recorded data 5 Habitat EditThis species occurs in the central dry zone of Myanmar an area that receives less than 1 000 mm 39 in of rain annually The area is made up of acacia and stunted dipterocarpaceae savannas although the area is being intensively utilized for agricultural purposes Mandalay spitting cobra specimens have been collected in dry forests and dry acacia habitat 5 Behaviour and diet EditThis species of cobra is predominantly nocturnal hunting at dusk or night They spend the daylight hours being mostly stationary or basking in the sun 7 The spitting behaviour of this species is said to be similar to that of the Indochinese spitting cobra N siamensis based on anecdotal observations made by herpetologists Mandalay spitting cobras are alert and defensive snakes quickly raising their forebodies and spreading a broad hood when faced with a threat Very little provocation is required to cause them to spit The venom can be efficiently expelled at least 2 m 6 6 ft in distance In addition to spitting this species will often also charge forward towards the threat while hissing loudly 5 It preys mainly on toads and frogs but will also take other snakes small mammals and occasionally even fish 8 Venom EditNothing is known about the venom of this particular species However as a species of spitting cobra the venom likely has a cytotoxic and post synaptic neurotoxic properties 7 References Edit a b Wogan G Stuart B 2012 Naja mandalayensis IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012 e T192227A2058297 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2012 1 RLTS T192227A2058297 en Retrieved 20 November 2021 Appendices CITES cites org Retrieved 2022 01 14 Naja mandalayensis Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 30 December 2014 Naja Integrated Taxonomic Information System Retrieved 30 December 2014 a b c d e f Slowinski J B Wuster W 2000 A New Cobra Elapidae Naja from Myanmar Burma PDF Herpetologica 56 2 257 270 Retrieved 30 December 2014 Naja The Free Dictionary Princeton University Retrieved 30 December 2014 a b Naja mandalayensis Armed Forces Pest Management Board United States Department of Defense Archived from the original on 11 January 2012 Retrieved 30 December 2014 Naja mandalayensis Clinical Toxinology Resource University of Adelaide Australia Retrieved 30 December 2014 External links EditEncyclopedia of Life Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mandalay spitting cobra amp oldid 1112364577, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
