The cover of HR 56(2) features an image of a juvenile Sunda King Cobra, Ophiophagus bungarus, that was photographed by Hamad Azam in Singapore. It is diurnal, intelligent, and alert, often raising the front third of its body and displaying defensively when threatened. Habitat loss, persecution, and illegal wildlife trade increasingly threaten populations. Understanding and conserving this species is essential, not only for preserving biodiversity in southeast Asia, but also for maintaining the ecological balance of forest ecosystems where it remains a top reptilian predator. Full contents are available online to SSAR members at https://ssarherps.org/herpetological-review-pdfs/. Natural History Notes, Geographic Distribution Notes, and Book Reviews are Open Access and are available for download at the same link.
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