Scientific name ‘Kaalinga’ officially assigned to Western Ghat King Cobra species

Bengaluru: In a proud moment for Karnataka, the famous king cobra species found in the Western Ghats has been officially given the name "Kaalinga," showcasing Kannada heritage in global scientific nomenclature. This unique recognition adds a feather to the cap of Karnataka's Statehood Day golden jubilee celebrations.

Renowned herpetologist Dr. P. Gowri Shankar, from Agumbe’s Kalinga Foundation, led the study that resulted in naming this species "Ophiophagus kaalinga," putting a distinctly Kannada mark on scientific literature. This unique naming is set to be officially declared by Karnataka’s Forest Minister, Eshwar Khandre, on November 22 at the J.N. Tata Auditorium in Bengaluru, during an event aptly titled "Namma Kaalinga" (Our Kaalinga).

Globally, the king cobra family includes four distinct species. The Northern King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is found in East Pakistan, North and East India, the Andaman Islands, and Southeast Asia. The Sunda King Cobra (Ophiophagus bungarus) inhabits South Philippines, and the Luzon King Cobra (Ophiophagus salvatanus) is exclusive to North Philippines. The "Ophiophagus kaalinga" name is now attributed to the distinct king cobra variant endemic to India’s Western Ghats.

Researchers identified these king cobra species based on minor differences in coloration, body scale patterns, and certain subtle physical variations. For instance, the Ophiophagus kaalinga has fewer than 40 body bands, while the bungarus subspecies has over 70. The hannah species has between 50 to 70 bands, whereas salvatanus exhibits none. These differences, noted Dr. Gowrishankar, are evident through DNA analysis, and scale examination.

Dr. Gowri Shankar, who has long been fascinated by reptiles, began his official study on king cobras in 2012, although initial research on the Kaalinga species dates back to 1836. His breakthrough study after nearly 185 years has redefined this unique Western Ghats species.

“The earlier research classified four types of king cobra. This time, we have progressed further by giving these species a distinct name. Usually, scientific names are in Greek or Latin. We gave the Western Ghats’ snake species a Kannada name “kaalinga” in honour of the Karnataka people for their reverence and worship towards this snake,” shared Dr. Gowri Shankar, clearly moved by this historic achievement.