Desert cobras
| Desert cobras | ||||||||||||
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Black desert cobra ( Walterinnesia aegyptia ) |
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| Systematics | ||||||||||||
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| Scientific name | ||||||||||||
| Walterinnesia | ||||||||||||
| Lataste , 1887 |
The desert cobras ( Walterinnesia ) are a genus of the poisonous snakes (Elapidae) within the tribe of the Hemibungarini, which include the black desert cobra ( Walterinnesia aegyptia ) and the Walterinnesia morgani , which has been regarded as a separate species since 2007 .
description
Desert cobras usually reach a length of 90 to 120 cm. A clear differentiation to the cobras of the genus Naja is made by the lack of the characteristic neck shield. Furthermore, the scales on the front half of the body and the tail are clearly keeled, this keel is missing in those of the rear half of the body. The desert cobras have a relatively wide and flattened snout with no rein shield ( scutum loreale ).
distribution and habitat
The desert cobras are native to the Middle East , with the distribution area extending from eastern Egypt via Israel , Jordan , Syria , Lebanon and Iraq to western Iran and the Arabian Peninsula .
They prefer sandy and stony desert areas with often very sparse bush growth so that they can dig themselves in easily. You can also find them in damp oases , overgrown gardens and old ruins . During the day they hide under rocks and stones, in crevices and in small animal structures.
Way of life
These snakes are almost exclusively active at dusk and at night, whereas during the day they hide in places protected from the sun. Since they mostly live underground, desert cobras rarely come into contact with humans. If you startle them, they curl up and keep their heads hidden under the loops. However, if they feel threatened, a loud hissing sound and usually several bites in defense follow. Due to their poor eyesight, they rely almost exclusively on their sense of smell when hunting.
The main food source of the desert cobras are lizards , smaller snakes , amphibians and various toads , long-tailed mice and birds .
Little is known about the reproduction of the desert cobras, but it is certain that they are oviparous and that the young snakes hatch in September.
Systematics
The desert cobras contain two described species:
- Black desert cobra ( Walterinnesia aegyptia )
- Walterinnesia morgani
It was Walterinnesia morgani 2007 by Goran Nilson and Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani for the eastern areas of distribution in Iran, Iraq and eastern Saudi Arabia used and thus of the Black Desert Cobra separated in the western part of the range.
supporting documents
- ^ Göran Nilson, Nasrullah Rastegar-Pouyani: Walterinnesia aegyptia Lataste, 1887 (Ophidia: Elapidae) and the status of Naja morgani Mocquardt 1905. In: Russian Journal of Herpetology. Volume 14, No. 1, 2007, pp. 7-14 ( PDF; 518 kB ).
literature
- Ulrich Gruber: The snakes in Europe and around the Mediterranean . Franckh Kosmos Verlag, Stuttgart 1989; Pp. 168-170. ISBN 3-440-05753-4 .
