Central Asian cobra

Central Asian cobra
Central Asian cobra
Conservation status
Data Deficient
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Subphylum: Vertebrata Class: Reptilia Order: Squamata Suborder: Serpentes Family: Elapidae Subfamily: Elapinae Genus: Naja Laurenti, 1768 Species: N. oxiana
Binomial name
Naja oxiana (Eichwald, 1831)
Distribution of the Central Asian cobra
Synonyms
Tomyris oxiana Eichwald, 1831 Naja oxiana Strauch, 1868 Naja tripudians var. caeca Boulenger, 1896 Naja naja oxiana Stejneger, 1907 Naja naja oxiana Smith, 1943 Naja naja oxiana Harding & Welch, 1980 Naja oxiana Welch, 1994 Naja naja oxiana Sharma, 2004 Naja (Naja) oxiana Wallach et al, 2009

The Central Asian cobra (Naja oxiana), also commonly known as the Caspian cobra and Oxus cobra, is a highly venomous species of cobra found in central Asia and belongs to the Elapidae family. It occurs in central Asia and like other cobra species, it spreads a “hood” as a warning to potential predators and other threats. The species is protected in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.

Etymology

The Central Asian cobra was described by Russian geologist and physician Karl Eichwald in 1831. The generic name naja is a Latinisation of the Sanskrit word nāgá (नाग) meaning "cobra". The specific epithet oxiana refers to the region surrounding the Amu Darya River which flows along Afghanistan's northern border separating it from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan before turning northwest into Turkmenistan to the Aral Sea. In ancient times, the river was known as the Oxus in Greek.

Description

Head and body of a Central Asian cobra.

This species is medium in length, heavy bodied snake with long cervical ribs capable of expansion to form a hood when threatened. The body is compressed dorsoventrally and subcylindrical posteriorly. The head is elliptical, depressed, slightly distinct from the neck with a short, rounded snout and large nostrils. The eyes are medium in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth and strongly oblique with the outer 2 or 3 scale rows larger than remainder. Adult specimens average between 1.1 m (3.61 ft) and 1.4 m (4.59 ft) in length. Specimens longer than 1.5 m (4.92 ft) are rare. This species exhibits considerable ontogenetic variation in its pattern. Juveniles are strongly banded, dorsally and ventrally. Anteriorly, the dark and light bands are approximately 3-5 ventrals wide, of equal width, and completely encircle the body. Going back along the body, the bands become narrower, and less clear on the ventral side. The ventral banding disappears altogether in the posterior third of the body. Going back, the dorsal light bands split into double bands, which then split into quadruple bands, and so on. The total number of light bands is around 45. Despite the presence of very obvious bands, the general appearance of the young specimens is very faded. The banding fades slowly with increasing size, but is still faintly visible, at least in the anterior part of the body, in young adults up to 90 cm (2.95 ft) and 100 cm (3.28 ft).

The dorsum of large adult specimens is more or less uniform, and of various shades of brown, but not normally black. The scales often have lighter edges than centres. The ventral surface is much lighter, often being cream coloured, with some mottling. The first 2-6 dark bands found on juveniles usually persist into adulthood. The first two are usually distinct, the more posterior ones less so. The first of these bands occupies a more anterior position than other Asiatic cobras. There are no lateral blotches on the throat. The pattern of the Central Asian cobra is not very variable. This species has no distinct hood mark. The banding seen on the dorsum continues onto the neck.

Scalation

Naja oxiana differs from all other Asiatic cobras by its very high ventral and subcaudal scale counts. Only Naja naja (Indian cobra), and, very occassionally, the Monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia), may overlap in both ventral and subcaudal scale counts. Specimens from the former Soviet Central Asia and Iran do not generally have any cuneate scales, whereas specimens from east of the Hindukush Mountains generally have one on each side.

23-27 (usually 25) scale rows around hood, 19-23 (usually 21) just ahead of midbody; 191-210 ventrals, 57-71 paired subcaudals; cuneates often absent.

Taxonomic note

Indian cobra (Naja naja) specimens without a hood mark are usually confused with this species, where these two co-exist in Pakistan and northwestern India. The Central Asian cobra is never fully black, although some specimens may be quite dark. Another thing is that this species of cobra normally has several dark bands under the throat, whereas in the black phase of Indian cobras (N. naja) from Pakistan, almost the entire throat is black.

Distribution and habitat

Geographical distribution

This species is well known in the Transcaspian region from Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, northeastern Iran, southeastern and northern Afghanistan, and northern Pakistan (North-West Frontier province and northern Baluchistan). There are more recent records from several parts of the Pakistani Punjab. In India, specimens have been reported from the Punch Valley, northwest of Jammu, and Mahajan and Agrawal (1976) described a specimen from the Simla Hills, in Himachal Pradesh. Reports from Rajahstan and Gujarat and other parts of northwestern India are probably based on specimens of Naja naja (Indian cobra) which lacked a hood mark. The range of the Central Asian cobra is split into two parts by the Hindukush mountains and the deserts of southern Afghanistan, southeastern Iran and southwestern Pakistan.

Habitat

This species is often found in arid and semi-arid, rocky or stony, shrub or scrub covered foothills at elevations up to about 3000 m (9842.52 ft) in Baluchistan. This is also the westernmost species of Asiatic cobra. It favours drier areas than the Indian cobra or the Monocled cobra, being found mainly in arid and semi-arid areas, and in dry mountain situations. In Pakistan, it is reported to occur in drier areas than the sympatric Indian cobra.

Behaviour, ecology and status

Behaviour and habits

Central Asian cobra

The Central Asian cobra is quick-moving and agile species that lives in holes in embankments or trees. It is mainly diurnal and terrestrial (tends to search for prey during late afternoon and early evening) but it can become crepuscular and nocturnal in some parts of its range during the hottest months of the year, especially in July. Good climbers and swimmers, they are particularly fond of water and are seldom found too far away from it. Although this species is generally intent on escape when encountered (juveniles tend to be more aggressive), they may become quite aggressive if cornered or provoked. In such a case it will spread its hood, hiss, sway from side to side and strike repeatedly. This species of cobra is a non-spitter.

Diet

Juveniles tend to prey on amphibians and lizards. The primary food sources for adults are mammals, like gerbils, rats, mice and voles, but they will also take toads and frogs, and occasionally they'll take fish, birds and their eggs.

Predators

In addition to being a predator, the Central Asian cobra is also prey. Different mongoose species, several varieties of birds of prey (especially "snake eagles"), and even other snakes may occasionally hunt and prey on this species. Juveniles or young specimens are particularly at risk of predation. Humans sometimes hunt the snake for their skins, for show as a subject for snake charmers or for staged fights with mongooses. This cobra is also hunted for use in local medicinal recipes.

Conservation status

This species is classified as Data Deficient (DD) on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species (v3.1, 2011). The conservation status of this species was last assessed in 2010.

This species is protected in all wildlife reserves in Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. However, the main threat to the Central Asian cobra as a species comes from humans. The construction of new housing, cutting wood for firewood, and deforestation to create pastureland, causes the destruction of habitat for these cobras and their prey and increases the likelihood of confrontation with humans, as the cobras seek food in human-populated areas. Excessive irrigation for agricultural purposes has led to the loss of much of the Tugai ecosystem as it is transformed into desert. The overgrazing of cattle leads to a reduction of food sources for the species' prey as well. These trends, along with over-hunting and indiscriminate killing by humans, have led to a reduction of the Central Asian cobra population.

Reproduction

Not much is known about the reproduction of the Central Asian cobra. Like most other elapids, it is oviparous and generally lays between 6 and 19 eggs. Hatchlings are independent right from birth.

Venom

Central Asian cobra being prepped to have its venom milked.

The venom is primarily a potent neurotoxin, but it also has some cytotoxic activity (tissue-death; necrosis). Two forms of "cytotoxin II" (cardiotoxin) were found in the venom of this species. The subcutaneous LD₅₀ value is 0.4 mg/kg, making it one of the most venomous of the Naja (cobra) species. Average venom yield per bite for this species is between 75-125 mg (dry weight), but it may yield up to 300 mg (dry weight). The bite of this species may cause severe pain and swelling, along with severe neurotoxicity. Weakness, drowsiness, ataxia, hypotension, and paralysis of throat and limbs may appear in less than one hour after the bite. Without medical treatment, symptoms rapidly worsen and death can rapidly occur after a bite due to respiratory failure.