Peters' cobra, Southern philippine cobra, Visayan cobra
The Samar cobra (Naja samarensis) is a highly venomous species of spitting cobra native to the Philippines.
Samar cobras can grow up to 1.4 meters in length. The coloring of these snakes varies from black and yellow to green.
Samar cobras are native to the southern Philippines. Specifically, the Visayas and Mindanao island groups. They inhabit a variety of habitats from mountainous jungles to tropical plains. They can also live in cultivated areas and close to human settlements.
Little is known about the behavior of Spitting cobras. These snakes are noted for their nervous behavior. They are quick to strike as well as to spray venom, which they generally aim toward the face and eyes.
A proteomic study revealed a unique venom phenotype of the Samar cobra, which represents the easternmost dispersal of Naja cobra species. If venom gets in the eyes, it causes extreme pain and mechanical damage to the eyeball. If not properly flushed out, it can result in permanent blindness due to its tissue-destroying properties.
Samar cobras are carnivores and feed mostly on small rodents such as rats and mice. However, they will also prey upon frogs and smaller reptiles.
Samar cobras are oviparous meaning that females lay their eggs. The clutches typically consist of up to 8 eggs.
Samar cobras are considered threatened at present. However, since their main food source is attracted to rice paddies and human settlements, these snakes are often persecuted by people.
According to IUCN Red List, the Samar cobra is locally common throughout its range but no overall population estimate is available. Currently, this species is classified as Least Concern (LC) on the IUCN Red List but its numbers today are decreasing.
