Samar cobra

The Samar cobra (Naja samarensis) also called Peters' cobra, southern Philippine cobra or Visayan cobra, is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to the Visayas and Mindanao island groups of the Philippines.[4][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Samar cobra
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Squamata
Suborder: Serpentes
Family: Elapidae
Genus: Naja
Species:
N. samarensis
Binomial name
Naja samarensis
Peters, 1861[2][3]
Distribution of the Samar cobra

Description

The Samar cobra is a species of spitting cobra that can grow up to 1.4 meters in length. Their coloring varies from a black and yellow to green. The Samar Cobra is a spitting cobra.

Scalation

There are 17-25 scale rows around the hood, 17-19 ahead of mid-body; 161-184 ventrals, 41-52 subcaudals, basal pairs sometimes undivided.[11]

Reproduction

The Samar cobra, or southeastern Philippines cobra, is oviparous, laying clutches of up to eight eggs.

Distribution and habitat

The Samar cobra is endemic to the southern Philippines. Specifically, the Visayas and Mindanao island groups.

Habitat can vary widely from mountainous jungle to tropical plains. They can live close to human settlements.

The Samar cobra typically lives at an elevation of 0 - 1,000 m (0 - 3,280 feet) asl.

Behavior

Like the Philippine cobra (Naja philippinensis), the Samar cobra feeds mostly on small rodents such as rats and mice. They will also prey upon frogs and smaller reptiles. Since their main food source is attracted to rice paddies and human settlements, this species often comes into conflict with people.


Safety Facts

If you happen to come into contact with the Samar cobra, it is best to slowly give it some space. It is a highly venomous snake documented of killing large pigs. It is recommended to stay away and give the snake it’s space.

Venom

The Samar cobra's venom is a potentially deadly neurotoxin, with cytotoxic properties as well. Envenomations can result in respiratory distress and paralysis, as well as considerable tissue necrosis around the bite site. They are noted for their nervous behavior, and are quick to strike as well as to spray venom, which they generally aim towards the face and eyes. However, the cobra is more reductant to spit venom than its northern relative, the Philippines Cobra If venom gets in the eyes, it causes extreme pain and mechanical damage to the eyeball. If not properly flushed out, it can result in permanent blindness due to its tissue destroying properties. Antivenin for the Samar cobra is produced in the Philippines, but is not widely available due to this species' restricted distribution and thus, relatively low numbers of individuals.

References
  1. "Naja samarensis (Samar Cobra, Southeastern Philippine Cobra)". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Retrieved 2017-09-28.
  2. "Naja samarensis". ITIS Standard Report Page. ITIS.gov. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  3. "Naja samarensis PETERS, 1861". Taxonomy of Elapids. Reptile-Database. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  4. "Naja samarensis, General Details, Taxonomy and Biology, Venom, Clinical Effects, Treatment, First Aid, Antivenoms". WCH Clinical Toxinology Resource. University of Adelaide. Retrieved 10 January 2012.
  5. "Naja samarensis - Southeastern Philippine Cobra". Asiatic Naja. Bangor University. Retrieved 5 November 2013.
  6. Dart, Richard C (2003). Medical Toxicology. USA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 3 edition. p. 1569. ISBN 0-7817-2845-2.
  7. Brown, John H. (1973). Toxicology and Pharmacology of Venoms from Poisonous Snakes. Springfield, IL USA: Charles C. Thomas. pp. 81. ISBN 0-398-02808-7.
  8. Zug, George R. (1996). Snakes in Question: The Smithsonian Answer Book. Washington D.C., USA: Smithsonian Institution Scholarly Press. ISBN 1-56098-648-4.
  9. "Naja samarensis". University of Adelaide.
  10. Wüster, W.; Thorpe, R. S. (1991). "Asiatic cobras: Systematics and snakebite". Experientia. 47 (2): 205–9. doi:10.1007/BF01945429. PMID 2001726. S2CID 26579314.
  11. http://pages.bangor.ac.uk/~bss166/Taxa/AsNaja.htm
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