King Cobra Shock: Scientists Uncover 4 Distinct Species, Major Breakthrough

• Dr. Gowri Shankar's decade-long research, based on DNA analysis, reclassified the King Cobra into four distinct species.
• Identified species: *Ophiophagus salvatana* (Indo-Malaysia, Philippines), *Ophiophagus kalinga* (Western Ghats), *Ophiophagus bungarus* (India-China), *Ophiophagus hannah* (Eastern Pakistan, North/Northeast India).
• *Ophiophagus kalinga*, found exclusively in the Western Ghats, marks a significant discovery, previously thought only *Ophiophagus hannah* existed in India.
• King Cobra (*Ophiophagus*) and common Cobra (*Naja*) are distinct genera, differing in habitat, diet (King Cobra preys on other snakes), and nest-building.
• India faces severe snakebite issues; "Big Four" snakes cause 90% of deaths. No specific antivenom for King Cobra bites is available.