Walterinnesia aegyptia: Difference between revisions

Walterinnesia aegyptia
	Walterinnesia aegyptia
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Elapidae
Genus:	Walterinnesia
Species:	W. aegyptia
Binomial name
	Walterinnesia aegyptia; Lataste, 1887

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Walterinnesia aegyptia, also known as the desert cobra or desert black snake, is a species of venomous snakes in the family Elapidae that is native to the Middle East. The specific epithet aegyptia (“of Egypt”) refers to part of its geographic range.^[1]

Description and behaviour

(See the article on the genus at Walterinnesia)

Distribution

The range of the species encompasses southern Israel, north-western Saudi Arabia, western Jordan, Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and possibly Lebanon. The type locality is Cairo, where the type specimen was purchased.^[1]

Venom

The desert cobra is highly venomous. The subcutaneous LD₅₀ for the venom of W. aegyptia is 0.4 mg/kg. For comparison, the Indian cobra's (Naja naja) subcutaneous LD₅₀ is 0.80 mg/kg, while the Cape cobra's (Naja nivea) subcutaneous LD₅₀ is 0.72 mg/kg. This makes the desert black snake a more venomous snake than both.^[2] Venom toxins of the desert cobra are similar to those of the king cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), indicating a close relationship.^[1]

Like many elapid snakes, the venom is primarily neurotoxic and the effects of envenenomation are due to systemic circulation of the toxins rather than from local effects on tissue near the site of injection.^[3]

References

^ ^a ^b ^c "Walterinnesia aegyptia LATASTE, 1887". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 2 June 2021.
^ LD50 Menu
^ Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J (editors) (2012). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. 4,012 pp. ISBN 978-0071748896.

This Elapidae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

[rdb-1] "Walterinnesia aegyptia LATASTE, 1887". Reptile Database. Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann. Retrieved 2 June 2021.

[2] LD50 Menu

[3] Longo DL, Fauci AS, Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J (editors) (2012). Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th Edition. New York: McGraw-Hill. 4,012 pp. ISBN 978-0071748896.

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@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 {{Short description|Species of snake}}
+{{Speciesbox
-{{Italic title}}
+| image = Sinai Desert Cobra.jpg
-{{Automatic Taxobox
-| name = ''Walterinnesia aegyptia''
+| image_caption = ''Walterinnesia aegyptia''
+| status =
-| image = Sinai-Desert-Cobra.jpg
+| status_system =
-| taxon = Walterinnesia
+| genus = Walterinnesia
+| species = aegyptia
 | authority = [[Fernand Lataste|Lataste]], 1887
+| range_map =
-| subdivision_ranks = [[Species]]
-| subdivision =
+| synonyms =
-*''Walterinnesia aegyptia'' <br>{{small|Lataste, 1887}}
-*''[[Walterinnesia morgani]]'' <br>{{small|([[François Mocquard|Mocquard]], 1905)}}
-<!-- | synonyms = ''Atractaspis wilsoni''<br>''Naja morgani'' -->
 }}
+'''''Walterinnesia aegyptia''''', also known as the '''desert cobra''' or '''desert black snake''', is a species of [[venomous snake]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Elapidae]] that is native to the [[Middle East]]. The [[specific name (zoology)|specific epithet]] ''aegyptia'' (“of Egypt”) refers to part of its geographic range.<ref name="rdb">{{cite web |url= https://reptile-database.reptarium.cz/species?genus=Walterinnesia&species=aegyptia|title= Walterinnesia aegyptia LATASTE, 1887|author=<!--Not stated--> |date= |website= Reptile Database |publisher= Peter Uetz and Jakob Hallermann |access-date= 2 June 2021}}</ref>
-[[File:Walterinnesia aegyptia.jpg|thumb|Desert cobra (''Walterinnesia aegyptia'')]]
+==Description and behaviour==
-'''''Walterinnesia'''''  is a [[genus]] of [[venomous snake]]s in the [[Family (biology)|family]] [[Elapidae]]. The genus contains two [[species]], known commonly as '''desert black snakes''' or '''black  desert cobras''', which are [[Endemism|endemic]] to the [[Middle East]].<ref name="ITIS">"''Walterinnesia'' ". ITIS (Integrated Taxonomic Information System). [https://www.itis.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=700253]</ref> ''Walterinnesia aegyptia'' was long considered to be the only species within the [[genus]]. However, it was recently found that the eastern populations actually represent a different species, ''[[Walterinnesia morgani]]''.<ref name="Nilson07">Nilson, Göran; Rastegar-Pouyani, Nasrullah (2007). "''Walterinnesia aegyptia'' Lataste, 1887 (Ophidia: Elapidae) and the status of ''Naja morgani'' Mocquard 1905". ''Russian Journal of Herpetology'' '''14''': 7-14.</ref> ''W. aegyptia'' is entirely [[black]] in color, and has highly shiny [[scale (zoology)|scales]]. ''W. morgani'' differs in having a juvenile pattern of reddish crossbars on the back, and lower average ventral and subcaudal scale counts.<ref name="Nilson07"/>
+(See the article on the genus at ''[[Walterinnesia]]'')
-==Etymology==
+==Distribution==
-The [[Genus|generic]] name, ''Walterinnesia'', is in honor of [[Walter Francis Innes Bey]] (1858–1937), who was a physician and zoologist in Egypt.<ref>Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). ''The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles''. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. {{ISBN|978-1-4214-0135-5}}. (''Walterinnesia aegyptia'', p. 130).</ref>
+The range of the species encompasses southern [[Israel]], north-western [[Saudi Arabia]], western [[Jordan]], [[Egypt]]’s [[Sinai Peninsula]] and possibly [[Lebanon]]. The [[Type (biology)#type locality|type locality]] is [[Cairo]], where the [[Type (biology)#Type specimen|type specimen]] was purchased.<ref name="rdb"/>
-==Physical description==
-These snakes are medium in length, with a medium, cylindrical body and a short tail. Their average length is {{convert|0.5|m|sp=us}}, but they can grow to lengths of {{convert|1.8|m|sp=us}}. Their head is moderately small, broad, flattened and slightly distinct from the neck. The snout is broad, sharply edged with a distinct canthus rostralis. The eyes are small in size with round pupils. Dorsal scales are smooth anteriorly and weakly keeled on the posterior part of the body and tail. They are very glossy throughout. Dorsal scale count 27 (24 to 29) - 23 (21 - 25) - 17.<ref name="WCH">[http://www.toxinology.com/fusebox.cfm?fuseaction=main.snakes.display&id=SN0049 Clinical Toxinology Resources - ''Walterinnesia aegyptia'']</ref>  Unlike other snakes commonly referred to as "cobras", the black desert cobra rarely rear up or produces a hood before striking in defense.
-==Geographical range and habitat==
-They are native to the [[Middle East]]. ''Walterinnesia aegyptia'' is found in the countries of [[Egypt]], [[Lebanon]], [[Jordan]], [[Israel]], northwestern [[Saudi Arabia]], and [[Kuwait]]. It may also be found in the areas of [[Syria]] that border Lebanon, as well as the deserts of [[Qatar]].<ref name="Ugurt01">Ugurtas IH, Papenfuss TJ, [[:fr:Nikolaï Orlov|Orlov NL]] (2001). "New record of ''Walterinnesia aegyptia'' Lataste, 1887 (Ophidia: Elapidae: Bungarinae) in Turkey". ''Russian Journal of Herpetology'' '''8''': 239–245.</ref>
-===Habitat===
-These species occur in the desert (excluding completely sand deserts such as the [[ad-Dahna Desert]]). They can also be found in [[Semi-arid climate|semi-desert scrubland]] and rocky terrain, extending into the foothills of vegetated Mediterranean terrain. They are also often found near human habitation in irrigated agricultural settlements.<ref name="WCH"/>
-==Behaviour and diet==
-The desert black snakes are [[nocturnal]] and are strictly [[Terrestrial animal|terrestrial]] snakes. They are most active around midnight. They actively pursue and forage for their [[prey]] and rather than envenomate their prey with an open mouth, they'll usually bite their prey sideways at short distances and often use constriction and suffocation techniques in addition to their venom to kill their prey.<ref name="Nilson07"/> There are reports of these snakes being aggressive when molested, but like most snakes, they will usually try to escape rather than immediately bite or face their threat. Venom is not injected immediately when they bite, but released seconds later with chewing movement.<ref name="WCH"/>
-===Diet===
-These species feeds mainly on [[lizard]]s such as [[skink]]s, [[gecko]]s, [[agamid]]s, other snakes, [[toad]]s and occasionally [[mice]] and [[bird]]s. They will also readily eat [[carrion]].<ref name="WCH"/>
 ==Venom==
-''W. aegyptia'' is highly venomous. The subcutaneous {{LD50}} for the venom of ''W. aegyptia'' is 0.4&nbsp;mg/kg. For comparison, the [[Indian cobra]]'s (''Naja naja'') subcutaneous {{LD50}} is 0.80&nbsp;mg/kg, while the [[Cape cobra]]'s (''Naja nivea'') subcutaneous {{LD50}} is 0.72&nbsp;mg/kg. This makes ''W. aegyptia'' (the desert black snake) a more venomous snake than both.<ref>[http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/ld50tot.html LD50 Menu]</ref>      Like many elapid snakes, the venom is primarily neurotoxic and effects of envenenomation are from systemic circulation of the toxins rather than from local effect on tissue near the site of injection.<ref>Longo DL, [[Anthony S. Fauci|Fauci AS]], Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J (editors) (2012). ''Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th Edition''. New York: McGraw-Hill. 4,012 pp. {{ISBN|978-0071748896}}.</ref>
+The desert cobra is highly venomous. The subcutaneous {{LD50}} for the venom of ''W. aegyptia'' is 0.4&nbsp;mg/kg. For comparison, the [[Indian cobra]]'s (''Naja naja'') subcutaneous {{LD50}} is 0.80&nbsp;mg/kg, while the [[Cape cobra]]'s (''Naja nivea'') subcutaneous {{LD50}} is 0.72&nbsp;mg/kg. This makes the desert black snake a more venomous snake than both.<ref>[http://www.seanthomas.net/oldsite/ld50tot.html LD50 Menu]</ref> Venom toxins of the desert cobra are similar to those of the [[king cobra]] (''Ophiophagus hannah''), indicating a close relationship.<ref name="rdb"/>
+Like many elapid snakes, the venom is primarily neurotoxic and the effects of envenenomation are due to systemic circulation of the toxins rather than from local effects on tissue near the site of injection.<ref>Longo DL, [[Anthony S. Fauci|Fauci AS]], Kasper DL, Hauser SL, Jameson J, Loscalzo J (editors) (2012). ''Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 18th Edition''. New York: McGraw-Hill. 4,012 pp. {{ISBN|978-0071748896}}.</ref>
-A survey of the literature revealed only a few clinical cases reported. Most of the information concerning ''W. aegyptia'' was collected from laboratory and animal studies.
 ==References==
 {{Reflist}}
+{{Taxonbar|from= Q1787873}}
-==External links==
-*{{EMBL species|genus=Walterinnesia|species=aegyptia}}
-*{{EMBL species|genus=Walterinnesia|species=morgani}}
-==Further reading==
-*[[Fernand Lataste|Lataste F]] (1887). "''Description d'un nouveau genre et d'une nouvelle espèce d'ophidien protéroglyphe d'Égypte'' ". ''Le Naturaliste, Journal des échanges et des nouvelles'' '''9''': 411-413. (''Walterinnesia'', new genus, p. 411; ''W. aegyptia'', new species, pp. 411-413). (in French).
-*[[François Mocquard|Mocquard F]] (1905). "''Diagnoses de quelques espèces nouvelles de Reptiles'' ". ''Bulletin du Muséum d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris'' '''11''': 76-79. (''Naja morgani'', new species, pp. 78-79). (in French).
-{{Taxonbar|from=Q1787873}}
 [[Category:Walterinnesia|aegyptia]]
-[[Category:Reptiles of Asia]]
 [[Category:Reptiles of the Middle East]]
-[[Category:Snakes of Jordan]]
+[[Category:Taxa named by Fernand Lataste]]
+[[Category:Reptiles described in 1887]]
+{{Elapidae-stub}}