Black cobra spotted in Oman for the first time

Muscat: A highly venomous species, the black cobra has been spotted for the first time in Oman. The Environment Authority has officially recorded the first documentation of the black desert cobra in Dhofar Governorate. This milestone was achieved in collaboration with the Institute of Evolutionary Biology in Spain and Nizwa University, marking a significant addition to Oman’s growing list of recorded snake species.

With this discovery of black desert cobra (Walterinnesia aegyptia) the total number of officially documented snake species in Oman has now reached 22, reinforcing the country’s commitment to biodiversity conservation and scientific research on native wildlife.

The black snake, known as the black desert cobra, is considered one of the highly venomous species widely spread in the Middle East. It was documented in the Sultanate of Oman, contributing significantly to scientific research. The findings were published in the scientific journal ZOOTAXA in April 2025.