Latest news with #MorphoBank
Gulf Insider
18-04-2025
- Science
- Gulf Insider
Black Cobra Spotted In Oman For The First Time
In a major ecological breakthrough, scientists have confirmed the first recorded presence of the black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, according to local media reports. The discovery raises the total number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman to 22. The find was made by researchers from the University of Nizwa's Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain. The discovery has been officially published in the international journal Zootaxa, and the supporting data uploaded to MorphoBank, a global open-access scientific database. استكمالًا لجهود #هيئة_البيئة في تنفيذ مشروع الزواحف في سلطنة عُمان، تُسجّل الهيئة أول توثيق رسمي لأفعى "الصّل الأسود" في السلطنة،تم التوثيق في محافظة ظفار بالتعاون مع معهد الأحياء التطوري بإسبانيا وجامعة نزوى، ليرتفع عدد الأفاعي المسجّلة إلى 22 نوعًا.… — هيئة البيئة – عُمان (@ea_oman) April 17, 2025 Genetic testing showed a near-identical match between the specimens found in Oman and those previously recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. As a result, scientists have synonymized Walterinnesia morgani with W. aegyptia, resolving a longstanding taxonomic The desert black cobra, a member of the Elapidae family, is known for its glossy, jet-black appearance and highly venomous nature. It is primarily nocturnal, with adults reaching up to 150 cm in length. Juveniles tend to be less defensive compared to other cobra species. Officials from the Omani Environment Authority have praised the discovery as a significant step in the country's biodiversity research. They attributed the success to the efforts of the Snake Survey Team in Dhofar. The confirmed presence of the black cobra underscores Oman's importance as a regional biodiversity hotspot, local media added.
Muscat Daily
16-04-2025
- Science
- Muscat Daily
Black cobra recorded in Oman for first time
Salalah – A team of scientists from the University of Nizwa, in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona, has confirmed the first recorded presence of black cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) in Dhofar governorate, marking a significant addition to Oman's reptile species list. Led by the Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre at the University of Nizwa, the study confirms the presence of the desert-dwelling cobra in several areas of Dhofar. With this, the number of scientifically documented snake species in Oman has risen to 22. The findings have been published on 'MorphoBank', an international open-access scientific database, enabling researchers around the world to access the data and build on the research. Genetic analysis conducted during the study showed that the specimens found in Dhofar are nearly identical to those recorded in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. Mitochondrial DNA results demonstrated a strong genetic match, leading to the reclassification of Walterinnesia morgani as a synonym of W. aegyptia, effectively resolving a long-standing taxonomic debate. The black cobra, a highly venomous nocturnal snake from the Elapidae family, is known for its uniform glossy black appearance and lack of patterns. Adults can grow up to 150cm in length. Juveniles of the species tend to exhibit less aggressive defensive behaviour than other cobra species.
