Arabian cobra
The Arabian cobra (Naja arabica) is a species of venomous snake in the family Elapidae. The species is endemic to the Arabian Peninsula. The cobra within the peninsula is a concern, with having a major cause of mortality rate in the region.
| Arabian cobra | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Elapidae |
| Genus: | Naja |
| Species: | N. arabica |
| Binomial name | |
| Naja arabica (Scortecci, 1932) | |
 | |
| Range of Arabian cobra | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Geographic range
The Arabian cobra is found in Oman, southern and western Saudi Arabia, and Yemen.[1]
Etymology
The specific name, arabica is Latin for Arabian.
Taxonomy
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] N. arabica is an elusive species and rarely seen in the wild.
References
- Els, J. & Al Johany, A.M.H. (2012). Naja arabica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2012. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2012.RLTS.T199850A2613995.en
- Species Naja arabica at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org.
- Trape, Jean-François; Chirio, Laurent; Broadley, Donald G.; 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. Retrieved 9 February 2012.
Further reading
- 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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