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A new species of spitting cobra (Naja) from north-eastern Africa (Serpentes: Elapidae)

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 March 2003

Wolfgang Wüster  and
Donald G. Broadley
Wolfgang Wüster
Affiliation:
School of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor LL57 2UW, Wales, U.K.
Donald G. Broadley
Affiliation:
Biodiversity Foundation for Africa, P.O. Box FM 730, Famona, Bulawayo, Zimbabwe
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Abstract

A new species of spitting cobra Naja nubiae sp. nov. is described from north-eastern Africa. The distinctiveness of the new species is confirmed by multivariate analysis of pattern and scalation data. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrial DNA sequences reveals the new species to be the sister taxon of N. pallida, but with considerable levels of sequence divergence relative to that species. The populations concerned had previously been assigned to N. pallida. The new species differs from N. pallida principally in having more than one dark band across the neck and under the throat, as well as a pair of spots under the throat. It occupies a disjunct range across Egypt, the Sudan, Chad, Niger and Eritrea, where it seems to occupy primarily relatively mesic habitats. Naja mossambica is more closely related to N. nigricollis than to N. pallida and the new species. A key to the African species of Naja is presented.

Keywords

Najataxonomyphylogenymultivariate morphometricsAfricaNaja nubiae sp. nov.
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Zoology , Volume 259 , Issue 4 , April 2003 , pp. 345 - 359
Copyright
© 2003 The Zoological Society of London

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