Abstract
The vulnerable Chinese cobra (Naja atra) ranges from southeastern China south of the Yangtze River to northern Vietnam and Laos. Large mountain ranges and water bodies may influence the pattern of genetic diversity of this species. We sequenced the mitochondrial DNA control region (1029 bp) using 285 individuals collected from 23 localities across the species' range and obtained 18 sequences unique to Taiwan from GenBank for phylogenetic and population analysis. Two distinct clades were identified, one including haplotypes from the two westernmost localities (Hekou and Miyi) and the other including haplotypes from all sampling sites except Miyi. A strong population structure was found (Φst = 0.76, P<0.0001) with high haplotype diversity (h = 1.00) and low nucleotide diversity (π = 0.0049). The Luoxiao and Nanling Mountains act as historical geographical barriers limiting gene exchange. In the haplotype network there were two “star” clusters. Haplotypes from populations east of the Luoxiao Mountains were represented within one cluster and haplotypes from populations west of the mountain range within the other, with haplotypes from populations south of the Nanling Mountains in between. Lineage sorting between mainland and island populations is incomplete. It remains unknown as to how much adaptive differentiation there is between population groups or within each group. We caution against long-distance transfers within any group, especially when environmental differences are apparent.
Highlights
Cobras of the genus Naja are a clade of elapid snakes that occur in Africa and Asia
Naja atra occurs in the southeastern provinces of China south of 30u179N north latitude, northern Vietnam and Laos; N. kaouthia ranges from southwestern China to south-southeastern Asia [1,6,7,8]
Cobras from the western, southern and eastern population groups are at the base, in the middle and at the top of the maximum likelihood (ML) phylogenetic tree, respectively (Fig. 1)
Summary
Cobras of the genus Naja are a clade of elapid snakes that occur in Africa and Asia. They have attracted worldwide attention for their unique hood-spreading behavior and deadly toxicity. The 11 Asian cobras in the subgenus Naja are thought to comprise a lineage that spreads from west to east, from Africa through India [2,3,4]. Two Naja cobras can be found in China, the Chinese cobra N. atra and the monocled cobra N. kaouthia [5]. Naja atra occurs in the southeastern provinces (including Taiwan) of China south of 30u179N north latitude, northern Vietnam and Laos; N. kaouthia ranges from southwestern China to south-southeastern Asia [1,6,7,8]
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