King Cobra Split Into Four Species: 2024 study rewrites Ophiophagus hannah; naming history resurfaces
A recent study has identified four distinct King Cobra species globally. This reclassification follows earlier research suggesting separate lineages existed. The snake's scientific name, Ophiophagus hannah, was established after taxonomic disputes. Danish naturalist Theodore Cantor first described the serpent in 1836. Its genus name was later changed due to a conflict with butterfly classification.
