Arabian cobra
| Arabian cobra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Naja |
| Subgenus: | Uraeus |
| Species: | N. arabica
|
| Binomial name | |
| Naja arabica (Scortecci, 1932)
| |
| |
| Range of Arabian cobra | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
The Arabian cobra (Naja arabica) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula.
Etymology and Taxonomy
[edit]Naja arabica is classified under the genus Naja of the family Elapidae. It was first described by an Italian herpetologist, Giuseppe Scortecci in 1932. The generic name Naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग), meaning "cobra”. The specific epithet arabica means “of Arabia” or “Arabic”.
This species, Naja arabica, had long been considered a subspecies of the Egyptian cobra (Naja haje), but morphological and genetic differences have led to its recognition as a separate species.[3]
Distribution
[edit]The Arabian cobra is found in western Oman, southwestern Saudi Arabia, and throughout Yemen.[1]
The Photo Ark
[edit]- In November 2021, National Geographic announced that the Arabian cobra was the milestone 12,000th animal photographed for The Photo Ark.[4]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Els, J.; Al Johany, A.M.H. (2012). "Naja arabica". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2012: e.T199850A2613995. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T199850A2613995.en. Retrieved 6 March 2022.
- ^ Species Naja arabica at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- ^ Trape, Jean-François; Chirio, Laurent; Broadley, Donald G. [in French]; Wüster, Wolfgang (2009). "Phylogeography and systematic revision of the Egyptian cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja haje) species complex, with the description of a new species from West Africa" (PDF). Zootaxa. 2236: 1–25. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.2236.1.1. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
- ^ DELL'AMORE, DELL'AMORE (16 November 2021). "Arabian cobra becomes 12,000th animal added to ark of at-risk species". nationalgeographic.com. National Geographic. Archived from the original on 20 November 2021. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
Further reading
[edit]- Scortecci G (1932). "Rettili dello Yemen ". Atti della Società Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale in Milano 71: 39–49. (Naja haje arabica, new subspecies, pp. 47–49). (in Italian).
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