UD+Spacearrow's+Super+Cobus


 * Alesander Tszsang UD Spacearrow's Super Cobus 3000**

Existing Species- King Cobra Extinct Species- Titanoboa

====The King Cobra might evolve into this new species, Super Cobus 3000. It will evolve, by the year 3000, having new adaptations for the newer environment. Scientists predict that more and more different kinds of animals will become extinct during the next 1000 years, as pollution, deforestation, poaching, hunting are predicted to take place, in larger amounts than before. The Super Cobus needs to be a and vigilant hunter, in order to secure a stable food source, and to have good protection. For this purpose, the venom will be retained, and it will develop a new body color, fins to help it swim, as found in a shark, as well as the ability to detect prey via ultrasound, similar to a [|bat].====

====The Super Cobus will remain in the Southeast Asian region, as most countries which contain King Cobras, like the Philippines are islands or peninsulas. Therefore, the chance of King Cobras spreading will be relatively less. Such countries include: Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Bangladesh, Nepal, Philippines, Burma, Thailand, and a few in Malaysia as well as near the border between China and Bangladesh. So far, China is facing urbanization, and the amount of deforestation or pollutants present in the South China region is already causing the death of many King Cobras. Another example include the [|South China Tiger], which is now very seriously endangered (less than 20 remaining in the world), due to the urbanization in Southern China, particularly in Hong Kong and Guangdong, taking away their habitat. The ideal habitat for King Cobras will also need to contain trees to provide a reasonably safe and secure overnight stay for the Super Cobus. The Super Cobus, in turn will be adapted to different types of terrain as well as harsh environments, even environments with a heavy concentration of pollutants.====

[[image:PSL_18261_A.jpg width="514" height="404"]]
The red areas show where the Super Cobus will be found. There will be less of them found in China and India, since urbanization and industrialization will all take place, taking away the Super Cobus' habitat.

The Super Cobus will be adapted to conditions, even similar to this one.

====1. (Psychological) Ability to detect prey via ultrasound- The Super Cobus will be able to detect prey, similarly to a bat, and hence, increase its ability to find food. The existing King Cobra is a very alert animal, and when food source is, it will become more dependent on using its existing sensing tools, e.g its Jacobsen's Organ. To assist the King Cobra further, ultrasound detecting features will be implemented into the Super Cobus. A lot of other animals by the year 3000 will also change their body colors in order to adapt to the environment, since they all fear extinction. The Super Cobus will be able to send out waves which detects its surroundings, and the waves will bounce off any prey, sending the signals back to the Super Cobus. This way, it can avoid being tricked by camouflage of other animals, and increase its variety of food.====

====2. (Structural) Change of body color- as more deforestation will take place, the Super Cobus will no longer have a olive green color for camouflage, since there wouldn't be much dark, green vegetation, and it will be an easy target for any future predators. Instead, there will be more muddy ground or farms which will urbanize, to make use of the deforested land. Therefore, it will develop a darker brown color, as it can loiter in mud or grass, to allow predators, prey or humans to mistake it for a slab of mud, and lowers their sense of security.====

====3. (Structural) Slightly shorter in shape- The Super Cobus will be slightly shorter in shape, shorter than the existing King Cobra by around 50 centimeters. This will increase its survival chance, as future predators or humans might not be able to notice them obviously. Also, this can decrease the body weight of the Super Cobus, should they need to chase after prey or run away from danger, they can run at a quicker speed.====

====4.(Behavioral) Ability to hatch more eggs- The Super Cobus will be able to hatch up to 100 eggs every time they reproduce, to increase the chance of passing on genes and allow the generations to keep going. Existing King Cobras hatch around 25 eggs every time they reproduce. Based on this amount of hatching, the birth rate is still unable to balance with the death rate of the King Cobra. In the future, the female Super Cobus will develop more eggs to allow it to hatch more of them at once, and increase the offspring produced every time. This can allow the Super Cobus more chances to continue their generations for many more years.====

====5.(Behavioral/Structural) Development of small flippers around the body- If food source is scarce on land, the Super Cobus has to find a way to increase its food source, and another way is to find food on water. It can then take a dive, allowing it to hunt for fishes or other marine creatures. However, the existing King Cobra does not have an efficient way of swimming, as it uses its energy to force its way through the water. Therefore, the Super Cobus will develop small flippers around the side of its body to assist it during swimming; they will waddle forward and backwards, allowing the Super Cobus an easier and a more effortless way of swimming.====

====The lifespan of the Super Cobus might not be very long. The rapid population increase as well as urbanization will take away lots of homes of the Super Cobus. Egg poaching and illegal trafficking of the eggs might take place, in places like Thailand or Vietnam, where such activities might happen. Thailand is notoriously famous for the trafficking of Tigers. Future oil spills as well as pollutants might enter oceans and seas, causing the Super Cobus to eat contaminated fishes, which endangers their health. Industrial pollutants might also poison the Super Cobus, if not, its food source, and it will cause death to the Super Cobus.====

Bibliography: Mckinsey, BW. (2009, April 6). //Mckinseys view of chinas future urbanization//. Retrieved from http://nextbigfuture.com/2009/04/mckinseys-view-of-chinas-future.html

SIIA,. (2007, October 19). //Deforestation of southeast asia urgent action needed//. Retrieved from http://www.siiaonline.org/?q=programmes/insights/deforestation-southeast-asia-%E2%80%93-urgent-action-needed

WWF,. (2008). //Marine problems: pollution//. Retrieved from http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/problems/pollution/