Is trade the reason for the unusual colour morph of Cobra from Goa? Response to Sawant et al.

Vyas, Raju; Patel, Harshil

doi:10.11609/jott.8223.14.12.22351-22353

J. Threat. Taxa

2022

DOI: 10.11609/jott.8223.14.12.22351-22353

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Is trade the reason for the unusual colour morph of Cobra from Goa? Response to Sawant et al.

Raju Vyas¹,

Harshil Patel²

Abstract: Comments on Sawant et al. published a record of an unusual colour morph of the Indian Cobra, Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758), based on a specimen rescued from Modelo wado, Assonora (15.618°N; 73.897°E), Goa, India. The record of this unusual colour morph and published images of the Indian Spectacle Cobra by Sawant et al. indicate that the specimen is not from Goa but elsewhere, most probably from states of northwestern India. This unusual colour morph cobra is not a case of higher melanism in that individual snake … Show more

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“…In response, we wish to agree to the fact that there has been a clear oversight of an important reference and gaps in data collection which led to the misinterpretation. As pointed out by Vyas & Patel (2022) it could very well be a case of illegal wildlife trade for reasons such as photography or false beliefs. We did not refer to Wüster (1998) and hence failed to confirm the proper identity of this individual.…”

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Corrections to ‘An unusual morph of Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) from Goa, India (Serpentes: Squamata)’

Sawant

Singh²,

Rane³

et al. 2022

J. Threat. Taxa

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Corrections to ‘An unusual morph of Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) from Goa, India (Serpentes: Squamata)’

Sawant

Singh²,

Rane³

et al. 2022

J. Threat. Taxa

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Report of stray sightings of Dendrelaphis proarchos (Wall, 1909) (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Surat, Gujarat, western India

PARMAR,

THAKUR,

AGARWAL

et al. 2024

Zootaxa

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We here report on likely human-mediated, stray sightings of Dendrelaphis proarchos (Wall, 1909) in an unnatural range—Surat, Gujarat in western India. This population shows the following characters: (1) vertebral scales distinctly enlarged, larger than the dorsals of the first row; (2) 185–194 ventrals; (3) 139–142 divided subcaudals in complete tails; (4) 15 dorsal scale rows at midbody; (5) cloacal shield undivided; (6) one loreal scale; (7) three supralabials touching the eye; (8) a moderate first sublabial that touches two infralabials; (9) 11–12 temporal scales; (10) preoculars 1 or 2; (11) two or three postoculars; (12) maximum total length 1150 mm; (13) interparietal spot absent; (14) a black temporal stripe that does not starts on the postnasal or loreal but starts on the center of the eye follows postoculars (middle or second postocular) covers the majority of the temporal region and extends onto the neck; (15) a distinct, bright ventrolateral stripe bordered by one black line at the bottom; (16) dorsal interstitial color blue and (17) tongue color red with black tip. Data from a partial fragment of the mitochondrial 16S gene also reveal genetic congruence with published sequences from Sagaing and Ayeyarwady in Myanmar and Mizoram, India, further attesting the morphological conclusions. Absence of any sighting of this form in the wild despite long-term (> 15 years) studies in south Gujarat by us, the lack of previous reports of this population especially in natural habitats in Gujarat by colleagues, and reports of many such stray populations of non-native herpetofauna in the coastal port city of Surat together, indicate an unnatural, probably human-mediated, transportation of D. proarchos to Surat. Such likely human-mediated introductions of species outside their native range are a cause for concern and require awareness campaigns among snake rescuers not to ‘release’ such snakes in the Gujarat forests, but to keep them in zoos or return to the actual point of wild origin, if known or feasible.

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Ethnozoological Review on the Trade, Human Alimentation, and Cultural Use of Skinks (Reptilia, Scincidae)

Janssen,

Ineich,

Shacham

et al. 2024

Journal of Ethnobiology

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Animals and their derivatives have been used for a wide range of purposes, including human consumption, clothing, tools, medicinal and magical-religious purposes, for most of human history, and as pets more recently. We reviewed the scientific literature and, using 134 references, provided an overview of how 400 species of skinks (23% of skink diversity) are used in the context of ethnozoology, especially as related to international and domestic trade and any cultural significance. Except for 10 species, all records of skinks involve domestic or international trade. Body weight, various activity pattern traits, and various microhabitats were found to be positive predictors of documented human use. In contrast, species found in less accessible microhabitats, such as semi-aquatic species, showed reduced odds of an ethnozoological role. A more comprehensive examination of trading patterns, cultural significance, or any other human use of skinks currently appears to be impossible, simply due to a lack of necessary information. In addition, data related to functional traits of skinks or a general understanding about the factors that influence skink usage or cultural significance are scarce or absent. We conclude that our understanding of factors that may influence human use of lizards in general and skinks in particular needs to be improved to create more effective species conservation and environmental education outcomes.

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Is trade the reason for the unusual colour morph of Cobra from Goa? Response to Sawant et al.

Cited by 3 publications

References 6 publications

Corrections to ‘An unusual morph of Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) from Goa, India (Serpentes: Squamata)’

Corrections to ‘An unusual morph of Naja naja (Linnaeus, 1758) from Goa, India (Serpentes: Squamata)’

Report of stray sightings of Dendrelaphis proarchos (Wall, 1909) (Serpentes: Colubridae) in Surat, Gujarat, western India

Ethnozoological Review on the Trade, Human Alimentation, and Cultural Use of Skinks (Reptilia, Scincidae)

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