Rare cobra discovered

IMPHAL, Nov 23: A rare peach-cream coloured hypomelanistic monocled cobra has been discovered for the first time in Manipur at Thoubal.
The monocled cobra (Naja kaouthia) is a venomous snake found across South and Southeast Asia. It gets its name from the O-shaped, or monocellate, pattern on its hood.
While the monocled snakes are naturally dark in colour, the snake found at Thoubal Wangmataba Sorok Mathak Leikai is of peach-cream colour due to a genetic condition called hypomelanism, said the People For Animals, Manipur.
Hypomelanism is a condition of melanin deficiency where the production/synthesis process of melanin in the body is below the optimum.
Such animals have less melanin and are lighter in colour.
There are not many records of sightings of hypomelanistic monocled cobra in India, said the PFA.
The life-span of hypomelanistic snakes are usually short as they are easily visible to predators due to their lighter skin colour. This is also one of the reasons for the very limited sightings of such snakes, said the PFA.
The hypomelanistic snake which is now in PFA's custody is fully developed.
It was rescued from the residential compound of one Moirangthem Meghabarna at Thoubal Wangmataba Sorok Mathak.
Meghabarna noticed the snake when it was still a snakelet (baby snake), but he chose not to harm it. This may have helped the snake survive this long, said the PFA.
As the snake had become fully developed, Meghabarna informed the PFA to rescue it.
The snake is being kept at an animal shelter. The PFA and the Forest Department are studying the snake.