LEVITON, BROWN, & SILER: PHILIPPINE VENOMOUS SNAKES 
497 
vent (scale row reduction: 23[21]-19-13); ventrals 162-178; subcaudals 42-50; precloacal scale 
single. 
Size.— Snout-vent length ((5') 843 mm, ($) 921 mm; tail length (S) 158 mm, ($) 155 mm. 
Distribution.— Endemic to Philippines (Bohol; Leyte; Mindanao [Prov.: Agusan, Bukidnon, 
Lanao, Misamis Occidental, Zamboanga]; Samar). 
Naja simiatrana F. Muller, 1887 
Equatorial or Sumatran spitting Cobra 
Naja tripudians var. sumatrana Muller, 1887:277 (Type locality: Solok, Prov. Sumatera Barat, Sumatra, 
Indonesia.) 
Naja naja miolepis, Taylor, 1922a:262.— Leviton, 1964:538. 
Naja sumatrana, Wiister and Thorpe, 1989:336-341.— Toriba, 1993:192.— David and Ineich, 1999:168. 
Description. — Color above black or dark brown, below dark or light but without a distinc¬ 
tive black band on anterior postion of bdy; scales in 23 longitudinal rows abound the neck, 17-19 
longitudinal rows at midbody; and 13 rows longitudinal rows just before the vent (scale row reduc¬ 
tion: 23-[17] 19-13); ventrals 178-195; subcaudals 46-51; precloacal scale single. 
Size. — Snout-vent length (cJ) 1227 mm, (5) 1057 mm; tail length (cJ) 177 mm, ( 9 ) 150 mm. 
Distribution. — Philippines (Culion; Palawan). Elsewhere: Thailand (southern), Malaysia 
(Peninsula, Borneo), Indonesia. 
Genus Ophiophagus Gunther, 1864 
Ophiophagus Gunther, 1864:340 (Type species: Hamadryas elaps Gunther, 1864 [= Hamadryas hannah Can¬ 
tor, 1836]).— Leviton, 1964:544. 
Diagnosis. — Maxillary bone extends forward beyond palatine; venom fangs short, followed 
by three short teeth; head barely distinct from neck; nostril large, between two nasal scales; loreal 
scale absent; scales smooth, in 15 longitudinal rows at midbody; subcaudal scales partially single, 
partially divided; hemipenes very elongate, forked for most of their length; hypapophyses present 
on posterior vertebrate. 
Ophiophagus hannah (Cantor, 1836) 
King Cobra 
Figures 7A-B, 36, 37 
Ophiophagus hannah, Gunihor, 1864:341.— Leviton, 1964:544.— Alcala, 1986a:161; 1986b:161.— Toriba, 
1993:195.—David and Ineich, 1999:171. 
Naja hannah, Taylor, 1922:256, pi. 31.— Smith, 1943:436. 
Description. — Color variable, dorsum uniform olive to dark brown in adults, scales often 
with black borders, juveniles dark brown to black with yellow rings; ventral surface, chin and 
throat cream white, becomming darker posteriorly. Maxillary bone extends forward beyond pala¬ 
tine; venom fangs short, followed by three small teeth; pterygoid teeth 10-12; head barely distinct 
from neck; eye moderate, pupil round; nasal large, nostril between two nasals; loreal absent; scales 
smooth, in 15 longitudinal rows throughout; caudodorsal scales reduce: 6 (2+3 [43^6]) 6; subcau¬ 
dals 90-116. 
Size. — Snout-vent length (c?) 1610 mm, ( 9 ) 1590 mm; tail length (c?) 430 mm, ( 9 ) 395 mm 
Distribution. — Philippines (Balabac; Jolo; Luzon [Prov. Aurora, Benguet, Bulacan, Isabela, 
Laguna]; Mindanao (southern); Mindoro; Negros [Prov.: Negros Oriental]; Palawan; Polillo). Else¬ 
where: Pakistan tlirough South and Southeast Asia, southern China, Malaysia, Singapore, Indone¬ 
sia. 
