PHILIPPINE COBRA
Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobra’s heads. All of the Philippine cobras have conspicuous dark bars or spots on the underside of the neck at about the level of the hood. King cobras are the world’s largest venomous snake, with an average adult length of 3-4 meters (maximum length of 5.5 meters). A full grown king cobra can be yellow, green, brown, or black with yellowish or white cross-bars or chevrons on the back. The throat is light yellow or cream colored with 4 similar crossbars under the head.
King cobras are active during the daytime and prefer to escape unless they are cornered or provoked. This is not true of females guarding their nests during the egg-laying season from January through April, when they may attack without provocation. Northern and Southeastern Philippine cobras and equatorial spitting cobras reach an average adult length of 1-1.5 meters. These cobras are commonly active in the evening but are not exclusively nocturnal (active by night). Northern Philippine cobras have a yellowish to olive brown background color and lack distinct markings on their back. The throat is yellowish white with one or several pairs of lateral spots. Southeastern Philippine cobras have an iridescent brownish black and yellowish reticular background color. The chin and upper neck are whitish yellow with black bands or splotches. Equatorial spitting cobras found in the Philippines have a uniform jet black background color with a bluish black belly and pale markings on the neck and chin. Northern and Southeastern Philippine cobras and equatorial spitting cobras are generally timid and will seek to escape when encountered. They are the most dangerous when surprised in close quarters, and when biting, tend to hold on and chew savagely. These snakes also have a highly developed ability to “spit” venom at intruders, ejecting their venom accurately into the eyes of their victims from a distance of up to 3 meters. The venom of all cobras in the Philippines contains potent and fast-acting neurotoxins. Bites from king cobras are of special concern because of the greater volume of venom injected.
HABITATS
Cobras are at home in many types of terrain in the Philippines, from sea level up to 1,800 meters elevation.
All of the Philippine cobras are terrestrial, but specimens are sometimes encountered in trees and streams. Optimum habitat for cobras found in the Philippines include savannas and grasslands, bamboo thickets, dense or open forests, dense mangrove swamps, hilly jungles, as well as cultivated areas. King cobras are found on Balabac, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, and Palawan. This species is uncommon throughout it’s Philippine range. Equatorial spitting cobras are found only on Palawan and some of the Calamian Islands. The Northern Philippine cobra has been recorded from Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, Marinduque, and Catanduanes. Records from the Calamian Islands and Palawan require confirmation. This species is common in areas populated by man and is an important cause of snake bites in the Philippines. The Southeastern Philippine cobra inhabits the islands of Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Camiguin and is likely to occur on some of the other smaller, nearby islands.
LANCE-HEADED PIT VIPERS
Wagler’s, Philippine, Polillo, and Bataan pit vipers all belong to a group of tree-dwelling snakes called lance-headed pit vipers. General characteristics of this group of snakes include a broad, flattened head, very distinct from the narrow neck, with a moderately compressed, cylindrical body, and a prehensile tail of moderate length. Their eyes are small to moderate in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Pit vipers have a pair of heat sensing pits located between each eye and nostril. Wagler’s pit vipers have a green or blue-green background color with black-edged scales; the top of the head is black with yellow-green markings and the chin is yellow. Trimeresurus spp. snakes have a dorsal background color of green, greenish-yellow, or bluish-green, a characteristic broken or continuous line of yellow dots along the sides near the belly with or without a series of irregular dark blotches or crossbars, varying in color, along the back. Pit vipers possess a very sophisticated venom delivery system. Large tubular fangs are placed in the front of the mouth and they are hinged, allowing them to be folded back when not in use. Their venom is primarily hemotoxic and all of the lance-headed pit vipers of the Philippines are capable of inflicting a dangerous bite. Primarily nocturnal in habit, these snakes are sluggish and docile during the day but will bite when threatened at night.
HABITATS
The lance-headed vipers that inhabit the Philippines are arboreal, usually being found in bushes or in small trees. Generally, they live in lowland forests, and are often encountered along banks of streams or in damp localities at elevations up to 600 meters. Habitats include mangrove and hardwood forests. Wagler’s pit vipers are sometimes kept unconfined in temples or tolerated about dwellings as an omen of good luck. Wagler’s pit vipers are distributed throughout the Philippine archipelago. The Philippine viper and it’s subspecies have been recorded from Camiguin, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Polillo, Bataan, Bohol, Catanduanes, Dinigat, Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Panay.
CORAL SNAKES
The coral snakes of the Philippines can be classified as either Asiatic coral snakes (Hemibungarus and Calliophis spp.) or long-glanded coral snakes (Maticora spp.). Both of these types of snakes are characterized by small heads, not distinct from the body, a slender and elongated, cylindrical body with a short tail, and small eyes with round pupils. Long-glanded coral snakes reach an average adult length of only 0.3 meters. They have elongated venom glands that extend posteriorly for about 1/3 of the body length. Long-glanded coral snakes have a background color of brown to black above, with longitudinal blue, yellow, or whitish lines and the head and/or ventral
surface of the tail brightly colored. Adult Asiatic coral snakes average 0.3 to 0.5 meters in length. They have a cream band across the base of the head, and a background color of russet to pink, with narrow, widely separated black cross bands or a background color of brown to crimson, with 3 longitudinal black strips from head to tail. Many harmless snakes mimic their coloration. Coral snakes are seldom aggressive unless provoked or handled.
HABITATS
The coral snakes of the Philippines are typically found in scrub jungles or monsoon forests, up to elevations of 1,100 meters, and are often found near human habitations. These snakes generally avoid dry terrain. Although occasionally active in the early morning, coral snakes are mostly nocturnal and remain hidden during the day within the humus of the forest floor, or beneath logs, and other debris in wooded areas. Asiatic coral snakes have been recorded from Luzon, Mindoro, Cebu, Negros, Panay, and Polillo. Long-glanded coral snakes occur in the Philippines on Palawan, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, the Calamian Islands, and throughout the Sulu archipelago.
SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Bites by venomous snakes can result in a wide range of effects, from simple puncture wounds to life threatening illness and death. Snake venom is a complex mixture of generally two types of proteins, each distinguishable by its activity.
One category of venom is the neurotoxins. These venoms affect the nervous system, causing destruction or paralysis of the nerves that regulate heartbeat and respiration. Victims may die from asphyxiation or heart failure.
The other major group is the hemotoxic venoms, with proteins that attack blood cells and also destroy both muscular and vascular tissue. Hemotoxic venoms allow blood to escape into the surrounding tissue, causing severe swelling, pain, and discoloration at the site of the snakebite. Victims may die from kidney failure or shock.
All snake venom has both neurotoxins and hemotoxins. The venom of Asian lance-headed pit vipers (Trimeresurus and Tripidolaemus spp.)is primarily hemotoxic, with only a small neurotoxic component and causes pain, blistering, hemorrhaging, and digestion of tissue around the bite wound. Viper bite victims may bleed from the bite site or bleed spontaneously from the mouth or old wounds.
The venom of cobras, coral and sea snakes contains a higher percentage of neurotoxins. Their venom produces much less obvious symptoms but can affect nerves far removed from the site of the bite.
Bites by Philippine cobras are immediately painful and tender to touch. When biting, these cobras tend to hold on and chew savagely. Specific symptoms of cobra envenomation include drowsiness, difficulty in speaking, drooling, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. These symptoms occur within one hour after the bite. Respiratory arrest can occur within minutes. An additional, unique form of toxicity with the spitting cobras found in the Philippines (equatorial, northern and southeastern Philippine cobras) occurs when venom is spit into the eyes. Venom entering the eyes may cause immediate burning pain with inflammation and possible permanent blindness unless the venom is rinsed out of the eyes as soon as possible.
Coral snakes do not strike like the vipers; they bite and often chew to inject their venom. Coral snakes must hold on for a longer period of time for significant envenomation to occur. At the site of the bite, there is usually little swelling or inflammation. Neurological symptoms including slurred speech, an overall tingling sensation, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, muscle weakness and respiratory paralysis are often delayed for 12 or more hours after the bite.
PALAWAN LONG-GLANDED CORAL SNAKE
Maticora intestinalis bilineata
LONG-GLANDED CORAL SNAKE
Maticora spp.
ASIAN CORAL SNAKE
Calliophis spp.
ASIAN CORAL SNAKE
Calliophis spp.
SPECIES CHECKLIST
Species Common Name
COBRAS
Ophiophagus hannah King cobra
Naja philippinensis Northern Philippine cobra
Naja samarensis Southeastern Philippine cobra
Naja sumatrana Equatorial spitting cobra
LANCE-HEADED PIT VIPERS
Tropidolaemus wagleri Wagler’s pit viper
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus Philippine pit viper
Subspecies
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus halieus Polillo pit viper
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus mcgregori Bataan pit viper
CORAL SNAKES
Maticora intestinalis bilineata Palawan long-glanded coral snake
Maticora intestinalis philippina Northern Philippine long-glanded coral snake
Maticora intestinalis suluensis Sulu long-glanded coral snake
Hemibungarus calligaster Philippines coral snake
Calliophis calligaster calligaster Luzon coral snake
Calliophis calligaster gemiannulis Central Philippine coral snake
Calliophis calligaster mcclungi Polillo coral snake
SEA SNAKES
Aipysurus eydouxi Olive-brown sea snake
Astrotia stokesii Stoke’s sea snake
Emydocephalus annulatus Egg-eating sea snake
Enhydrina schistose Beaked sea snake
Hydrophis belcheri Banded small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis brookei Brook’s small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis caerulescens Dwarf sea snake
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Annulated sea snake
Hydrophis fasciatus Banded small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis melanosoma Black-banded robust sea snake
Hydrophis ornatus Reef sea snake
Cobras are recognized by the hoods that they flare when angry or disturbed; the hoods are created by the extension of the ribs behind the cobra’s heads. All of the Philippine cobras have conspicuous dark bars or spots on the underside of the neck at about the level of the hood. King cobras are the world’s largest venomous snake, with an average adult length of 3-4 meters (maximum length of 5.5 meters). A full grown king cobra can be yellow, green, brown, or black with yellowish or white cross-bars or chevrons on the back. The throat is light yellow or cream colored with 4 similar crossbars under the head.
King cobras are active during the daytime and prefer to escape unless they are cornered or provoked. This is not true of females guarding their nests during the egg-laying season from January through April, when they may attack without provocation. Northern and Southeastern Philippine cobras and equatorial spitting cobras reach an average adult length of 1-1.5 meters. These cobras are commonly active in the evening but are not exclusively nocturnal (active by night). Northern Philippine cobras have a yellowish to olive brown background color and lack distinct markings on their back. The throat is yellowish white with one or several pairs of lateral spots. Southeastern Philippine cobras have an iridescent brownish black and yellowish reticular background color. The chin and upper neck are whitish yellow with black bands or splotches. Equatorial spitting cobras found in the Philippines have a uniform jet black background color with a bluish black belly and pale markings on the neck and chin. Northern and Southeastern Philippine cobras and equatorial spitting cobras are generally timid and will seek to escape when encountered. They are the most dangerous when surprised in close quarters, and when biting, tend to hold on and chew savagely. These snakes also have a highly developed ability to “spit” venom at intruders, ejecting their venom accurately into the eyes of their victims from a distance of up to 3 meters. The venom of all cobras in the Philippines contains potent and fast-acting neurotoxins. Bites from king cobras are of special concern because of the greater volume of venom injected.
HABITATS
Cobras are at home in many types of terrain in the Philippines, from sea level up to 1,800 meters elevation.
All of the Philippine cobras are terrestrial, but specimens are sometimes encountered in trees and streams. Optimum habitat for cobras found in the Philippines include savannas and grasslands, bamboo thickets, dense or open forests, dense mangrove swamps, hilly jungles, as well as cultivated areas. King cobras are found on Balabac, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Mindoro, Negros, and Palawan. This species is uncommon throughout it’s Philippine range. Equatorial spitting cobras are found only on Palawan and some of the Calamian Islands. The Northern Philippine cobra has been recorded from Luzon, Mindoro, Masbate, Marinduque, and Catanduanes. Records from the Calamian Islands and Palawan require confirmation. This species is common in areas populated by man and is an important cause of snake bites in the Philippines. The Southeastern Philippine cobra inhabits the islands of Mindanao, Samar, Leyte, Bohol, and Camiguin and is likely to occur on some of the other smaller, nearby islands.
LANCE-HEADED PIT VIPERS
Wagler’s, Philippine, Polillo, and Bataan pit vipers all belong to a group of tree-dwelling snakes called lance-headed pit vipers. General characteristics of this group of snakes include a broad, flattened head, very distinct from the narrow neck, with a moderately compressed, cylindrical body, and a prehensile tail of moderate length. Their eyes are small to moderate in size with vertically elliptical pupils. Pit vipers have a pair of heat sensing pits located between each eye and nostril. Wagler’s pit vipers have a green or blue-green background color with black-edged scales; the top of the head is black with yellow-green markings and the chin is yellow. Trimeresurus spp. snakes have a dorsal background color of green, greenish-yellow, or bluish-green, a characteristic broken or continuous line of yellow dots along the sides near the belly with or without a series of irregular dark blotches or crossbars, varying in color, along the back. Pit vipers possess a very sophisticated venom delivery system. Large tubular fangs are placed in the front of the mouth and they are hinged, allowing them to be folded back when not in use. Their venom is primarily hemotoxic and all of the lance-headed pit vipers of the Philippines are capable of inflicting a dangerous bite. Primarily nocturnal in habit, these snakes are sluggish and docile during the day but will bite when threatened at night.
HABITATS
The lance-headed vipers that inhabit the Philippines are arboreal, usually being found in bushes or in small trees. Generally, they live in lowland forests, and are often encountered along banks of streams or in damp localities at elevations up to 600 meters. Habitats include mangrove and hardwood forests. Wagler’s pit vipers are sometimes kept unconfined in temples or tolerated about dwellings as an omen of good luck. Wagler’s pit vipers are distributed throughout the Philippine archipelago. The Philippine viper and it’s subspecies have been recorded from Camiguin, Jolo, Luzon, Mindanao, Polillo, Bataan, Bohol, Catanduanes, Dinigat, Leyte, Mindoro, Negros, and Panay.
CORAL SNAKES
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| Sea Krait |
The coral snakes of the Philippines can be classified as either Asiatic coral snakes (Hemibungarus and Calliophis spp.) or long-glanded coral snakes (Maticora spp.). Both of these types of snakes are characterized by small heads, not distinct from the body, a slender and elongated, cylindrical body with a short tail, and small eyes with round pupils. Long-glanded coral snakes reach an average adult length of only 0.3 meters. They have elongated venom glands that extend posteriorly for about 1/3 of the body length. Long-glanded coral snakes have a background color of brown to black above, with longitudinal blue, yellow, or whitish lines and the head and/or ventral
surface of the tail brightly colored. Adult Asiatic coral snakes average 0.3 to 0.5 meters in length. They have a cream band across the base of the head, and a background color of russet to pink, with narrow, widely separated black cross bands or a background color of brown to crimson, with 3 longitudinal black strips from head to tail. Many harmless snakes mimic their coloration. Coral snakes are seldom aggressive unless provoked or handled.
HABITATS
The coral snakes of the Philippines are typically found in scrub jungles or monsoon forests, up to elevations of 1,100 meters, and are often found near human habitations. These snakes generally avoid dry terrain. Although occasionally active in the early morning, coral snakes are mostly nocturnal and remain hidden during the day within the humus of the forest floor, or beneath logs, and other debris in wooded areas. Asiatic coral snakes have been recorded from Luzon, Mindoro, Cebu, Negros, Panay, and Polillo. Long-glanded coral snakes occur in the Philippines on Palawan, Luzon, Mindanao, Samar, the Calamian Islands, and throughout the Sulu archipelago.
SNAKE VENOMS AND THEIR EFFECTS
Bites by venomous snakes can result in a wide range of effects, from simple puncture wounds to life threatening illness and death. Snake venom is a complex mixture of generally two types of proteins, each distinguishable by its activity.
One category of venom is the neurotoxins. These venoms affect the nervous system, causing destruction or paralysis of the nerves that regulate heartbeat and respiration. Victims may die from asphyxiation or heart failure.
The other major group is the hemotoxic venoms, with proteins that attack blood cells and also destroy both muscular and vascular tissue. Hemotoxic venoms allow blood to escape into the surrounding tissue, causing severe swelling, pain, and discoloration at the site of the snakebite. Victims may die from kidney failure or shock.
All snake venom has both neurotoxins and hemotoxins. The venom of Asian lance-headed pit vipers (Trimeresurus and Tripidolaemus spp.)is primarily hemotoxic, with only a small neurotoxic component and causes pain, blistering, hemorrhaging, and digestion of tissue around the bite wound. Viper bite victims may bleed from the bite site or bleed spontaneously from the mouth or old wounds.
The venom of cobras, coral and sea snakes contains a higher percentage of neurotoxins. Their venom produces much less obvious symptoms but can affect nerves far removed from the site of the bite.
Bites by Philippine cobras are immediately painful and tender to touch. When biting, these cobras tend to hold on and chew savagely. Specific symptoms of cobra envenomation include drowsiness, difficulty in speaking, drooling, blurred vision, shortness of breath, and loss of consciousness. These symptoms occur within one hour after the bite. Respiratory arrest can occur within minutes. An additional, unique form of toxicity with the spitting cobras found in the Philippines (equatorial, northern and southeastern Philippine cobras) occurs when venom is spit into the eyes. Venom entering the eyes may cause immediate burning pain with inflammation and possible permanent blindness unless the venom is rinsed out of the eyes as soon as possible.
Coral snakes do not strike like the vipers; they bite and often chew to inject their venom. Coral snakes must hold on for a longer period of time for significant envenomation to occur. At the site of the bite, there is usually little swelling or inflammation. Neurological symptoms including slurred speech, an overall tingling sensation, drooping eyelids, blurred vision, muscle weakness and respiratory paralysis are often delayed for 12 or more hours after the bite.
PALAWAN LONG-GLANDED CORAL SNAKE
Maticora intestinalis bilineata
LONG-GLANDED CORAL SNAKE
Maticora spp.
ASIAN CORAL SNAKE
Calliophis spp.
ASIAN CORAL SNAKE
Calliophis spp.
SPECIES CHECKLIST
Species Common Name
COBRAS
Ophiophagus hannah King cobra
Naja philippinensis Northern Philippine cobra
Naja samarensis Southeastern Philippine cobra
Naja sumatrana Equatorial spitting cobra
LANCE-HEADED PIT VIPERS
Tropidolaemus wagleri Wagler’s pit viper
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus Philippine pit viper
Subspecies
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus halieus Polillo pit viper
Trimeresurus flavomaculatus mcgregori Bataan pit viper
CORAL SNAKES
Maticora intestinalis bilineata Palawan long-glanded coral snake
Maticora intestinalis philippina Northern Philippine long-glanded coral snake
Maticora intestinalis suluensis Sulu long-glanded coral snake
Hemibungarus calligaster Philippines coral snake
Calliophis calligaster calligaster Luzon coral snake
Calliophis calligaster gemiannulis Central Philippine coral snake
Calliophis calligaster mcclungi Polillo coral snake
SEA SNAKES
Aipysurus eydouxi Olive-brown sea snake
Astrotia stokesii Stoke’s sea snake
Emydocephalus annulatus Egg-eating sea snake
Enhydrina schistose Beaked sea snake
Hydrophis belcheri Banded small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis brookei Brook’s small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis caerulescens Dwarf sea snake
Hydrophis cyanocinctus Annulated sea snake
Hydrophis fasciatus Banded small-headed sea snake
Hydrophis melanosoma Black-banded robust sea snake
Hydrophis ornatus Reef sea snake
