The phylogeny, phylogeography, and diversification history of the westernmost Asian cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja oxiana) in the Trans‐Caspian region

Abstract

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of the phylogenetic, phylogeographic, and demographic relationships of Caspian cobra (Naja oxiana; Eichwald, 1831) populations based on a concatenated dataset of two mtDNA genes (cyt b and ND4) across the species' range in Iran, Afghanistan, and Turkmenistan, along with other members of Asian cobras (i.e., subgenus Naja Laurenti, 1768). Our results robustly supported that the Asiatic Naja are monophyletic, as previously suggested by other studies. Furthermore, N. kaouthia and N. sagittifera were recovered as sister taxa to each other, and in turn sister clades to N. oxiana. Our results also highlighted the existence of a single major evolutionary lineage for populations of N. oxiana in the Trans‐Caspian region, suggesting a rapid expansion of this cobra from eastern to western Asia, coupled with a rapid range expansion from east of Iran toward the northeast. However, across the Iranian range of N. oxiana, subdivision of populations was not supported, and thus, a single evolutionary significant unit is proposed for inclusion in future conservation plans in this region.

Venomics of the Enigmatic Andaman Cobra (Naja sagittifera) and the Preclinical Failure of Indian Antivenoms in Andaman and Nicobar Islands

“…Phylogenetic reconstructions of the evolutionary histories of mitochondrial markers (cyt b and ND4) provided fascinating insights into the evolution of Asiatic cobras ( Figure 1 and Supplementary Figures S1–S4 ). The overall topology of the Naja phylogeny was in agreement with the previously reported mitochondrial species tree ( Kazemi et al, 2021 ). Consistent with the literature, N. sagittifera was recovered as a sister lineage to N. kaouthia ( Figure 1 and Supplementary Figures S1–S4 ) with significant node support [Bayesian Posterior Probability (BPP): 1; bootstrap (BS): 100].…”

“…Though initially considered a conspecific of the monocled cobra ( N. kaouthia ), these snakes were elevated to species rank based on molecular phylogenetics ( Wüster et al, 1995 ). Consistent with the literature ( Kazemi et al, 2021 ), mitochondrial phylogeny of the genus Naja recovered N. sagittifera as a sister lineage to one of the branches of the polyphyletic N. kaouthia clades ( Figure 1 ).…”

“…Phylogenetic reconstructions using mitochondrial markers revealed the distant evolutionary relationship between these Naja species. Consistent with previous report ( Kazemi et al, 2021 ), N. sagittifera was found to have originated from the common ancestor of Southeast Asian monocled cobra ( N. kaouthia ). Furthermore, we assessed the effectiveness of the “big four” polyvalent Indian antivenom in cross-neutralising the venom of this phylogenetically distant elapid snake.…”

Climate change and the increase of human population will threaten conservation of Asian cobras

“…Of the ten studied species, six are mostly distributed on the mainland and the remaining four are restricted to maritime Southeast Asia 14 , 58 . The preliminary database on the geographical distribution of ten Naja species was developed from the scientific literature 32 – 34 , 39 , 59 – 63 and the collection records of Naja naja and N. kaouthia at the Venom Research Centre, Bangladesh. Additionally, literature and preserved specimen based occurrence records were collected from the GBIF database ( www.gbif.org , accessed on 17.11.2020), and research-grade and verifiable data were collected from iNaturalist ( www.inaturalist.org , accessed on 17.11.2020) and from IUCN Red List range map ( https://www.iucnredlist.org , accessed on 17.11.2020).…”

Erratum

“…In “The phylogeny, phylogeography, and diversification history of the westernmost Asian cobra (Serpentes: Elapidae: Naja oxiana ) in the Trans‐Caspian region,” which was published in volume 11 issue 5 March 2021, the top panel of Figure 2 was missing. Additionally, in the caption the explanation for the color codes incorrectly described purple as representing Golestan and yellow as representing South Khorasan when in fact they should have been the other way round (yellow represents Golestan and purple represents South Khorasan).…”