‘Dangerously venomous’ 10-foot-long snake found in Philippines. It’s a new species

In a coastal forest of the Philippines, a venomous 10-foot-long snake slithered along the ground. Something about the pale predator caught the attention of nearby scientists — and for good reason.

It turned out to be a new species.

A team of researchers decided to study the king cobra , the world’s longest venomous snake. Scientifically known as Ophiophagus hannah, these massive snakes were generally thought to be widespread across southeastern Asia.

“Despite being undoubtedly one of the most iconic snakes in the world,” scientists had long debated whether king cobras were one varied species or several distinct species, according to a study published Oct. 16 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy.

Hoping to settle the debate, researchers spent over eight years tracking down more than 150 king cobras from several Asian countries, analyzing their DNA and comparing their appearances. A pattern began to emerge. The king cobras from the Philippines were genetically and visually distinct.

Researchers realized they’d discovered a new species: Ophiophagus salvatana, or the Luzon king cobra.

Luzon king cobras are “exceptionally large,” reaching up to 10 feet and 11 inches in length, the study said. They have “robust” bodies with “large,” “flattened” heads and black tongues. Their “large” eyes are ringed with yellow.

Photos show the pale “yellowish-gray” coloring of the new species. The edges of its scales are gray, shifting from light gray near its head to darker gray on its tail. Seen from below, its stomach is even “paler.”

Luzon king cobras are “dangerously venomous” predators found in coastal forests, urban parks and agricultural fields, but their diet and lifestyle remain poorly understood, the study said.

Researchers noticed king cobra specimens from the Philippines were generally rare in archive collections, likely due to their “relative rarity in most localities” combined with the “dangers of capturing, transporting and preserving” such large, venomous snakes.

Generally, king cobra bites are “rare” but, when they occur, they often lead to “rapid death in human beings.”

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Researchers said they named the new species “salvatana” after the Tagalog name for the king cobra.

The new species’ common name refers to Luzon island, where it was discovered and, so far, the only place it has been found. Luzon is the largest island in the Philippines and includes the capital of Manila.

The new species was identified by its DNA, body proportions, coloring and other subtle physical features.

The research team included Indraneil Das, P. Gowri Shankar, Priyanka Swamy, Rhiannon Williams, Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga, P. Prashanth, Gunanidhi Sahoo, S.P. Vijayakumar, Jacob Höglund, Kartik Shanker, Sushil Dutta, S.R. Ganesh and Wolfgang Wüster.

The team also discovered a second new species in India: the Western Ghats king cobra .

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