Latest news with #Walterinnesiaaegyptia
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Watch rare sea creatures appear off Thailand and four other animal encounters
The summaries below were drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All linked stories were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists. Unique creatures, odd animals and new species are discovered across the planet. Some are found lurking in remote corners of the world, while others have been hiding right under our noses. Learn more about some recent discoveries: Venomous creature — armed with neurotoxin — found in Oman for first time. See it In the rocky terrain of the Arabian peninsula, researchers have discovered the black desert cobra, Walterinnesia aegyptia, in Oman for the first time. This venomous snake, previously thought to be confined to Saudi Arabia, was found in the Dhofar region, raising questions about its dispersal routes. | Published April 18 | Read More | Whale seen 'singing his heart out' in Caribbean, underwater footage shows A male humpback whale was observed 'singing his heart out' off the coast of the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean Sea. This enchanting performance, captured by divers, is believed to be part of the whale's mating behavior. The whale, identified as TCI-847, was also seen engaging in a courtship ritual earlier that day. | Published April 22 | Read More | Odd-colored critter found at high school in India turns out to be 'rare' sight In eastern India, at Government Diakkawn High School, researchers spotted a leucistic hoary-bellied Himalayan squirrel, a rare sight due to its almost complete loss of pigmentation. This unique squirrel, with its bright white coloring, was observed in Mizoram, contributing to the understanding of color aberrations in small mammals. | Published April 22 | Read More | Elusive 'praying' females seen for first time 150 years after species' discovery In the tree canopies of French Guiana, citizen scientists have finally observed female Microphotina viridescens, a praying mantis species, for the first time since its discovery 150 years ago. These females were found in Trésor Regional Nature Reserve, offering new insights into their behavior and ecology. | Published April 24 | Read More | Rarely seen sea creatures spotted swimming and foraging off Thailand, video shows A pair of Bryde's whales were recently seen off the coast of Thailand in Mu Ko Chumphon National Park, showcasing the health of the marine ecosystem. These sightings, captured on video, highlight the presence of this vulnerable species in the Gulf of Thailand. The Thai government lists Bryde's whales as protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act. | Published April 24 | Read More | McClatchy News continues to follow the discovery and sightings of the most unusual and intriguing species. Check back for the latest stories.
Miami Herald
18-04-2025
- Science
- Miami Herald
Venomous creature — armed with neurotoxin — found in Oman for first time. See it
In the rocky and sandy terrain of the Arabian peninsula, a dangerous creature lurks just below the surface in a burrow. With a 'striking' black body and 'elusive' behavior, the nocturnal creature is 'rarely observed in the wild.' Black desert cobras, or Walterinnesia aegyptia, are deadly snakes with a neurotoxic venom found as far south as the southeastern corner of Saudi Arabia, but during recent surveys across the desert, researchers made a 'remarkable discovery.' The find was documented in a study published April 15 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. 'Although the distribution of Waterinnesia in Arabia was initially thought to be restricted to Saudi Arabia, recent research conducted between April 2015 and May 2024 has led to a remarkable discovery,' according to the study. 'Ten specimens of Walterinnesia have been found at 10 different localities in the Dhofar region, in the southwestern corner of Oman.' The snakes were found more than 600 miles from their closest known habitat, and within the country of Oman for the first time, researchers said. Black desert cobras can be between 3 and 4 feet long and are active night hunters, according to Britannica. While part of the cobra family, it 'is not a true cobra' and cannot spread its neck like a hood when threatened, but still packs a nasty bite. But how did they get there? The snakes are 'large and conspicuous' but were only described for the first time in the late 20th and early 21st centuries in Turkey and Syria, according to the study. This highlights their sneaky behavior, researchers said. 'This finding raises intriguing questions about the dispersal routes and ecological adaptations that may have enabled the establishment of this population in such a distant and isolated location,' researchers said. Despite their name, black desert cobras are not a sand-dwelling species, meaning they prefer to live in rocky and gravelly environments to create their burrows, according to the study. North of where the snakes were found in Oman is the Rub' al Hkali, the 'largest continuous sand desert in the world,' researchers said, possibly acting as a barrier between the Oman cobras and their relatives on the other side. The 10 records in Oman were also found across thousands of square miles, 'mostly in uninhabited regions,' according to the study. 'Therefore, we rule out a human-mediated introduction of this species in the country and suggest that the most plausible explanation for the presence of (the snake) in Dhofar is natural dispersal through the southern route, via southwestern Saudi Arabia and southern Yemen,' researchers said. Further study of the region may help identify other species living in unexpected places, according to the study. 'The addition of a new genus to Oman's reptile fauna is unexpected, especially given the extensive herpetological research conducted over the past 50 years,' researchers said. 'Recent sightings of elusive nocturnal snake species in the Arabian Peninsula underscore the continued importance of field surveys, as they can yield significant findings even in relatively well-sampled areas, such as Dhofar, as well as in regions that are less explored.' Dhofar is in southwestern Oman, along the Arabian Sea. The research team includes Salvador Carranza, Abdurhman Said Al-Amri, Ahmed Al Busaidi, Johannes Els, Maria Estarellas, Rashid Al-Buthari, Thore Koppetsch, Sergi Tullochi, Saleh Al Saadi, Said Hamed Ali Al-Rashdi, Sulaiman Al Hashmi, and Bernat Burriel-Carranza.
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.
Times of Oman
17-04-2025
- Science
- Times of Oman
Black cobra spotted in Oman for the first time
Muscat: A highly venomous species, the black cobra has been spotted for the first time in Oman. The Environment Authority has officially recorded the first documentation of the black desert cobra in Dhofar Governorate. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain and Nizwa University, marking a significant addition to Oman's growing list of recorded snake species. With this discovery of black desert cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) the total number of officially documented snake species in Oman has now reached 22, reinforcing the country's commitment to biodiversity conservation and scientific research on native wildlife. The black snake, known as the black desert cobra, is considered one of the highly venomous species widely spread in the Middle East. It was documented in the Sultanate of Oman, contributing significantly to scientific research. The findings were published in the scientific journal ZOOTAXA in April 2025.
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.
