New species of Kenyan spitting cobra named: 10-12-2007
The world's largest spitting cobra has been named by researchers in Kenya and the UK.
The snake was previously identified as a brown-coloured variant of the black-necked spitting cobra, but experts have now named the reptile in its own right.
Ashe's spitting cobra - also known as the large brown spitting cobra - was named after James Ashe, a herpetologist who founded the Bio-Ken snake farm in Watam, Kenya.
Reaching lengths of an incredible nine feet, the powerful reptile, which lives in the dry lowlands of north and eastern Kenya, also has the power to deliver more venom with a single bite than any other cobra in the world.
"A new species of giant spitting cobra is exciting and reinforces the obvious conclusion that there may be many other unreported species - but hundreds are being lost as their habitats disappear under the continued mismanagement of our planet." said Richard Leakey, chairman of the non-profit organisation WildlifeDirect.
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