MUSCAT: The Qatar animal registration database of reptile sightings just got an intriguing new entry—but from next door. For the first time ever, scientists have confirmed the presence of the elusive black cobra in Oman, specifically in the Dhofar governorate.
This rare discovery was led by researchers from the University of Nizwa, in partnership with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Barcelona. The project was spearheaded by the university’s Natural and Medical Sciences Research Centre. The black cobra, or Walterinnesia aegyptia, was documented in multiple locations across Dhofar, pushing Oman’s official snake count to 22 species.
Unlike the more dramatic hooded cobras, the black cobra prefers a stealthier lifestyle. It’s a shiny, patternless, glossy-black snake that comes out at night. Adult cobras of this species can grow up to 150cm, but the juveniles are relatively mild-mannered compared to their relatives.
The team didn’t just stop at visual confirmation. Using mitochondrial DNA, researchers proved that the snakes found in Dhofar are genetically identical to those in Saudi Arabia and Egypt. This finding helped clear up a long-standing confusion in the reptile world. It confirmed that Walterinnesia morgani isn’t a separate species, but just another name for W. aegyptia.
The discovery was published on MorphoBank, a global scientific platform. This means the data is now available to researchers worldwide to further study and expand the region’s biodiversity knowledge.
With this find, Oman joins a small but growing list of countries where this rare and venomous species has been officially recorded.
