Trading System, Demographic Parameters, and Habitat Characteristics of Javan Spitting Cobra (Naja sputatrix Boie 1827) in East Java Province

Abstract

Spitting cobra (Naja sputatrix Boie 1827) has been harvested and traded in local and international market, yet there was still no suficient data concerning its population and habitat. The main purposes of this research was to analyze the trading system, demographic parameters, morphometry and habitat characteristics of spitting cobra in East Java Province. The actors involved in the trading systems functioning as harvesters, collector, sub agen, agents, and also domestic users which likely had no allegiance between them and very much influenced by the market. Morphometrics measurement of the speciments, showed that male snakes had a longer bodysize compare to females, SVL were 999,2 cm and 998,9 cm respectively,which 81,90% of total harvested speciments were adult spitting cobras. The females dominated the harvested population of all trade actors, up to 90,54%, this might be an effect of harvesting pattern where the harvesters conducted catching outside the nests. Such pattern would be a threat for the population of the snake. Spitting cobras had no habitat preference and could easily adapted with different kinds of environment.