Cobras’ genetic history links Sri Lanka to Africa
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Researchers in India and Germany investigated the genetic origins of the spectacled cobra (Naja naja) found across South Asia, revealing a genetically distinct population in Sri Lanka that likely separated around two million years ago.
A Sri Lankan zoologist, P. E. P. Deraniyagala, first noted a unique cobra form in the country in 1939, and recent genetic studies have confirmed its differences from mainland Indian cobras.
While a 2022 study proposed classifying the Sri Lankan cobra as a separate species, other herpetologists questioned the evidence. The new research examined genetic markers from 67 cobras, finding that Sri Lankan cobras share a common ancestor with African cobras, which dispersed into South Asia during the Miocene period. Lower sea levels in the past allowed movement between India and Sri Lanka, but rising sea levels isolated the island’s cobra population, driving genetic divergence.
Researchers also found regional differences in venom composition within both India and Sri Lanka, with Sri Lankan cobra venom appearing more toxic in laboratory tests. Beyond the scientific investigation, the spectacled cobra holds cultural significance in Sri Lanka. Nimal Rathnayake authored a new book, “The Cobra: The Hooded Icon of Sri Lanka,” detailing the snake’s role in the island’s history, folklore, and religious traditions, launched at the World Congress on Snakes 2026 in Kandy.
Further study is needed to determine if the genetic differences justify classifying the Sri Lankan cobra as a new species.
