Check this cobra out!

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davo

davo

Aimara
MFK Member
Jan 9, 2006
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England
Not just the newest snake species... but the biggest spitting cobra discovered to date!

Africa's Naja ashei snake (pictured) is not only the world's newest snake species—it's also the largest spitting cobra, scientists with the conservation nonprofit WildlifeDirect announced today.

Blood and tissue samples helped confirm what some snake experts have long believed: that these massive, aggressive, extremely venomous snakes—which can grow to more than 9 feet (274 centimeters) long—form a separate species.

Commonly known as Ashe's spitting cobra, the new species is named after one such expert: the late James Ashe, the founder of the Bio-Ken Snake Farm research center in Watamu, Kenya. Ashe believed that this coastal snake was different from any other.

Naja ashei takes its place among the 30 or so known cobra species, including the king cobra, which is the world's largest venomous snake.

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Anthony Childs, a guide and collector at eastern Kenya's Bio-Ken Snake Farm, moves in to capture an Ashe's spitting cobra, of the newly identified Naja ashei species.

The Naja ashei, also known as a large brown spitting cobra, can kill up to 20 people with one bite. Researchers at Bio-Ken milked one specimen and drew 6.2 milliliters of venom, which is among the largest amounts of venom ever extracted from a snake at one time, they said in December 2007.

They have also seen the snake devour rabbits, 5-foot-long (152-centimeter) puff adder snakes, and 2-foot-long (60-centimeter) monitor lizards.

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Royjan Taylor (right) and a colleague inspect an Ashe's spitting cobra (Naja ashei) at the Bio-Ken Snake Farm in Watamu, Kenya.

Previously the snake was believed to be a brown-skinned version of the black-necked spitting cobra. Thanks to the new identification, announced December 7, 2007, snake experts say that they will have an easier time developing antivenin for Naja ashei bites.

The reptile is not believed to be endangered. But Taylor said that it is threatened by human encroachment and that conservation efforts must be made.

"Although I am a naturalist and conservationist who is passionate about all wildlife, my heart goes out to the reptiles that are often misunderstood—especially snakes."

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yeah, i'd love one... shame a 9+ ft venemous that's probably quite fast and spits venom as well as bites is a bit intimidating.
 
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