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| Naja fuxi Shi, Vogel, Chen & Ding, in Shi, Vogel, Ding, Rao, Liu, Zhang, Wu & Chen, 2022. |
Abstract
Taxonomic frameworks for medically important species such as cobras (genus Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) are essential for the medical treatment of snake bites and accurate antivenin development. In this paper, we described the former N. kaouthia populations recorded from China as a new species and designated a neotype for N. atra-based morphological and mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis. The new species Naja fuxi sp. nov. was morphologically diagnosed from N. kaouthia by (1) regular single narrow crossband present on the middle and posterior parts of the dorsum (3–15, 7.9 ± 2.7, n = 32) and the dorsal surface of the tail (1–6, 4.2 ± 1.1, n = 32) of both adults and juveniles, buff-colored with dark fringes on both edges, vs. South Asian populations (n = 39) and Southeast Asian populations (n = 35) without cross bands, with irregular cross bands or multiple light-colored crossbands pairs, or densely woven lines; (2) small scales between the posterior chin shields, usually three (40%) or two (37%), rarely four (13%), or one (10%) (n = 30) vs. mostly one (81%) and rarely two (19%) (n = 28); (3) ventrals 179–205 (195.4 ± 6.7, n = 33) vs. South Asian populations 179–199 (188.7 ± 5.9, n = 12); Southeast Asian populations 168–186 (177.8 ± 4.9, n = 18). Phylogenetically, the new species forms an independent sister clade to the clade including N. atra, N. kaouthia, N. oxiana and N. sagittifera. Furthermore, the subspecies N. naja polyocellata should be resurrected and recognized as a full species, N. polyocellata comb. nov., and the subspecies N. sumatrana miolepis should be resurrected.
Keywords: Asian cobras; Naja kaouthia; Naja atra; taxonomy
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| Southeastern Asian Naja kaouthia in life. (A,B) a juvenile from Selangor, Peninsular Malaysia; (C) an adult from Chang Wat Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand; (D) a juvenile from Samut Prakan, Thailand; (E) an adult from Surat Thani, Thailand; (F) an adult from Ranong, Thailand; (G,H) two adults from Duc Trong, Lam Dong, Vietnam. (A) was photographed by Dr. Teo Eng Wah. Other photos were cited from iNaturalist.org occurrence dataset doi.org/10.15468/ab3s5x via GBIF.org (licensed under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/) by following photographer: Gregory Greene ((C) record No. 2006052432), Wich’yanan L ((D) record No. 3090707753), Mintkhaosok ((E) record No. 3325726349), Knotsnake ((F) record No. 3384192379), Herpingvietnam ((G) record No. 2557801804), Leonid A. Neymark ((H) record No. 2366151765). |
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| Naja atra in life. (A) Adult from Qingtian, Zhejiang, China; (B–D) one adult (B,C) and another (D) from Lishui, Zhejiang, China; (E) juvenile from Wuyi, Fujian, China; (F,G) one adult from Guangzhou, Guangdong, China; (H) adult from Guangzhou, Guangdong, China. (A–E) Photographed by Bin-Qing Zhu; (F–H) photographed by Liang Zhang. |
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| Naja fuxi sp. nov. in life and habitats. (A, B) Dorsolateral view and hood pattern of adult female paratype CIB DL2018081005 from Panzhihua, Sichuan, China; (C, D) Dorsolateral and front view of an unvouchered adult from Jiangcheng, Pu’er, Yunnan, China; (E, F), two adults from Wenshan, Yunnan, China; (G) Subtropical Forest at type locality Panzhihua, Sichuan, China; (H) Tropical monsoon forest and farmland at Jiangcheng, Pu’er, Yunnan, China. (Photos (A, B, H) by Sheng-Chao Shi; (C, D, G) by Li Ding; (E, F) by Liang Zhang). |
Naja fuxi sp. nov. Shi, Vogel, Chen, Ding
Diagnoses. (1) body scales smooth, scale rows at anterior body 19–29 (23.8 ± 3.1, n = 32), mid-body 19–27 (20.9 ± 1.5, n = 33), posterior body 12–19 (15.3 ± 2.9, n = 33); (2) ventrals 179–205 (195.4 ± 6.7, n = 33), subcaudals 45–61 (51.4 ± 9.7, n = 33); (3) total length in adults 690–1366 mm (1039.5 ± 207.6 mm, n = 15), tail length 110–201 mm (145.9 ± 27.8 mm, n = 15), tail length/total length 0.128–0.162 (0.141 ± 0.009, n = 32, including adults and juveniles); (4) small scales between posterior chin shields mostly three (40%) or two (37%), rarely four (13%) or one (10%) (n = 30); (5) dorsum light brown in adults, deep brown or black in juveniles (n = 32); (6) throat pale usually without dark mottling, ventrolateral throat spots distinct, followed by a broad light brown band; (7) hood markings usually a pale oval marking with narrow dark inner and outer border (73%), sometimes irregular residual patterns of a monocle (20%), rarely indistinguishable (7%), no dark side spots in any individual (n = 30); (8) both adults and juveniles with clear regular single narrow buff cross bands with dark fringes on middle, posterior dorsum 3–15 (7.9 ± 2.7, n = 32) and dorsal tail 1–6 (4.2 ± 1.1, n = 32); (9) hemipenial spines on distal part well connected at base, forming calyculate fold; (10) fangs not modified for spitting, venom discharge orifice relatively large.
Etymology. The new species is named after Fuxi (伏羲), one of the human ancestors in Chinese mythologies, usually depicted in cultural relics as half-man and half-snake. The common postures of Fuxi resembles a cobra in reared status; this species is named for the impact that snake had in human culture. The specific nomen is a noun in apposition. To identify this species quickly when dealing with snakebites, we suggest “Brown Banded Cobra” as a common English name, for its unique coloration with a brown body and light crossbands on the body and tail. For the Chinese name, we suggest “西南眼镜蛇” (Xī Nán Yǎn Jìng Shé) as it is distributed in the southwestern part of China.
Distribution and ecology. The Brown Banded Cobra is currently known from tropical and southern subtropical areas of southwestern China at elevations between 1000–1400 m. Specimens examined in this study are recorded from Renhe District and Miyi County, Panzhihua Prefecture, southwestern Sichuan Province, and Jiangcheng County, Simao District, Menglian County, Ximeng County, and Pingbian County, Yunan Province. This species was also reported from western Guangxi [30,31,32]. This species is expected to be found in adjacent areas including western Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and southwestern Guizhou Province of China, northeastern Myanmar, northern Laos, northern Thailand, and northwestern Vietnam.
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Conclusions:
Our results led to taxonomic revisions of some Asian cobras: (1) the former Chinese population of N. kaouthia represents a new species, N. fuxi sp. nov.; (2) the subspecies N. naja polyocellata was resurrected and recognized as a full species N. polyocellata comb. nov.; (3) the subspecies N. sumatrana miolepis was resurrected. This study highlights the necessity to evaluate effectiveness of cobra antivenin based on comprehensive taxonomic frameworks. However, there are still some open questions about the systematics of widespread species such as N. kaouthia. The taxonomy of Asian cobras still needs further revision. A wide international collaboration network is recommended to construct a solid taxonomic framework of these medically important species for the common well-being of Asian people.
Sheng-Chao Shi, Gernot Vogel, Li Ding, Ding-Qi Rao, Shuo Liu, Liang Zhang, Zheng-Jun Wu and Ze-Ning Chen. 2022. Description of A New Cobra (Naja Laurenti, 1768; Squamata, Elapidae) from China with Designation of A Neotype for Naja atra. Animals. 12(24); 3481. DOI: 10.3390/ani12243481
Simple Summary: Cobras (Naja Laurenti, 1768) are a group of well-known highly venomous snakes, which cause numerous cases of snakebites every year, especially in South Asia and Southern China. Taxonomic framework is essential for the medical treatment of snake bites and accurate antivenin development. However, the taxonomy of Asian cobras is still puzzling, especially for the widespread species Monocled Cobra (N. kaouthia Lesson, 1831). This study provided new materials and understanding for the taxonomy of this species by combining mitochondrial phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparisons based on samples from a vast area in Asia. The results showed that the Chinese population of N. kaouthia represents a new species. This study also provided new data for N. atra and designated a neotype for it. Furthermore, the subspecies N. naja polyocellata was resurrected and recognized as a full species, N. polyocellata comb. nov., and the subspecies N. sumatrana miolepis was also resurrected. This study highlighted the necessity to evaluate the effectiveness of cobra antivenin based on a comprehensive taxonomic framework.
