A New Species of King Cobra Is Identified in Luzon

PHOTO BY Facebook/Gowri Shankar

(SPOT.ph)What was once thought to be the famous king cobra called Ophiophagus hannah roaming the Philippines is now revealed to be something else entirely. New research has identified the Ophiophagus salvatana as a new species exclusive to Luzon. It turns out we didn’t know king cobras as well as we thought.

The discovery comes after a decade of research led by herpetologist Gowri Shankar that was recently published in the European Journal of Taxonomy.

"After a decade of dedicated research that I’ve had the privilege to lead, we’ve successfully resolved the taxonomic complex of Ophiophagus hannah," Shankar said in a Facebook post. "This research represents a significant step forward in our understanding of king cobra taxonomy."

To put it simply, Ophiophagus hannah is no longer a collective term for king cobras, but a distinct species among four different kinds. Local conservation organization Wildlife Matters said that two of these species—Ophiophagus salvatana and Ophiophagus bungarus—can be found in the Philippines.

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King cobras in the Philippines

So what makes Ophiophagus salvatana stand out from the rest? Aside from being found only in Luzon, Wildlife Matters CEO Jazz Ong explained to SPOT.ph that the snake generally has a narrower head, lighter color, fewer bands, and smaller occipital scales compared to other king cobra species.

On the other hand, Ophiophagus bungarus has a wider head, darker color, more bands, and larger occipital scales. Locally, they are typically found in Mindoro and Palawan.

However, there are still some nuances to explore. While Shankar’s research mentions that Ophiophagus salvatana has no banding, Ong has seen otherwise: "It’s just that hindi sila kasing prominent ng bungarus and hannah." This highlights the need for more research to fully understand the species.

The study didn’t cover populations from Mindanao or the Visayas either, so researchers are still referring to those snakes as Ophiophagus sp. until more studies are done. Ophiophagus sp. is the temporary designation used by scientists to refer to king cobra populations that haven’t been formally identified or classified.

For now, Ong pointed out that it’s clear Ophiophagus hannah is no longer in the Philippines.

What does this mean for us?

This new discovery is more than just a scientific win—it has huge implications for conservation efforts. Ong stressed that Ophiophagussalvatana’s newfound status as a "super endemic" species means it could be even rarer than previously thought.

"The discovery of O. salvatana is very important because it tells us how rare and fragile our biodiversity is. For the longest time, scientists believed king cobras as a whole were vulnerable but now with this new split, we know that they are even more rare. Who knows, possibly even endangered," Ong told SPOT.ph.

To help protect the newly identified species, Wildlife Matters launched King Cobra Initiative Philippines to collect data on sightings and conduct research to better understand local king cobras and prevent snake-human conflicts. The initiative also provides snakebite management training to help communities deal with potential encounters.

"If you spot a cobra, don't hesitate to report it through our survey form. Your contribution could make a real difference in the conservation of these magnificent creatures," King Cobra Initiative Philippines said.

Once reported, the Wildlife Matters team rescues and relocates the king cobras to safer locations.

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