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== '''[[Buddhism]]''' ==
== '''[[King cobra]]''' ==
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'''Buddhism''' is usually considered a [[religion]]. On most estimates it has in the region of 350,000,000 adherents, making it the 4th to 6th largest religion in the world, and one of the three major universal religions (as distinct from those largely confined to a single ethnic group). There are "significantly large communities" of Buddhists in 126 countries.<ref>''World Christian Encyclopedia'', Oxford University Press, 2nd ed, 2001, volume 1, page 3</ref> Half the world's population live in areas where Buddhism is or was at some time a major force.  
The '''King cobra''' (''Ophiophagus hannah''), also sometimes referred to as '''Hamadryad''', is the world’s largest venomous snake, capable of growing up to {{convert|5.5|m|ft}}, is rare, but has wide a distribution. This monotypic [[genus]] of the family [[Elapidae]] is considered as a species complex, as the species varies in colouration, scalation and body proportion. The King cobra is distributed in [[India]], [[Nepal]], [[Bangladesh]], [[Bhutan]], [[Myanmar]], [[People's Republic of China|China]], and most parts of [[Southeast Asia]] including [[Indonesia]] and the [[Philippines]]. The King cobra is listed under Schedule II of the ''Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972''; Appendix II of CITES; and in the Vulnerable category by IUCN (2010).This is a very elusive species, rarely seen and rarely bites humans, when it does, however, the mortality rate is generally low.


It was founded by Gautama, known as the [[Buddha]] (literally ''Awakened One''). He lived and taught in areas now in northeast India and [[Nepal]]. Historians now generally date his death somewhere in the region of 400 BC. There are several major [[Buddhism#See also|branches of Buddhism]], each with notable differences in teachings. Buddhists divide themselves into [[Mahayana]] and [[Theravada]], the former being further subdivided.
==Taxonomy and etymology==
The king cobra is the sole member of genus ''Ophiophagus'', while most other cobras are members of the genus ''Naja''. They can be distinguished from other cobras by size and hood. King cobras are generally larger than other cobras, and the stripe on the neck is like the symbol "^" instead of a double or single eye shape that may be seen in most of the other Asian cobras. Moreover, the hood  of the king cobra is narrower and longer.<ref name=vs>O'Shea, Mark. (2005). ''Venomous Snakes of the World''. UK: New Holland Publishers. ISBN 0-691-12436-1</ref> A foolproof method of identification is if on the head, clearly visible, is the presence of a pair of large scales known as [[Occipital scales|occipitals]], at the back of the top of the head. These are behind the usual "nine-plate" arrangement typical of colubrids and elapids, and are unique to the king cobra.


===Nomenclature===
''[[King cobra|.... (read more)]]''
 
The word "Buddhism" is of course an English one, first recorded in 1801. "Native" Buddhists use names in their own languages. The name is derived from "Buddha" ([[Sanskrit]] and [[Pali]]), which is a title rather than a name. Literally it means "awakened". It is often translated as "enlightened".
 
The usual practice of Western scholars is to use Sanskrit terms when writing of Buddhism generally. Sanskrit was the language used by Buddhism in its heartland in the Middle Ages, but is little used by any Buddhists now. Theravada uses Pali, a dialect from an earlier phase of Buddhist history, while Chinese and Tibetan are widely used by those countries deriving their Buddhism from them.
 
''[[Buddhism|.... (read more)]]''


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Revision as of 21:52, 31 May 2012

King cobra

The King cobra (Ophiophagus hannah), also sometimes referred to as Hamadryad, is the world’s largest venomous snake, capable of growing up to 5.5 m (18.04 ft), is rare, but has wide a distribution. This monotypic genus of the family Elapidae is considered as a species complex, as the species varies in colouration, scalation and body proportion. The King cobra is distributed in India, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, China, and most parts of Southeast Asia including Indonesia and the Philippines. The King cobra is listed under Schedule II of the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972; Appendix II of CITES; and in the Vulnerable category by IUCN (2010).This is a very elusive species, rarely seen and rarely bites humans, when it does, however, the mortality rate is generally low.

Taxonomy and etymology

The king cobra is the sole member of genus Ophiophagus, while most other cobras are members of the genus Naja. They can be distinguished from other cobras by size and hood. King cobras are generally larger than other cobras, and the stripe on the neck is like the symbol "^" instead of a double or single eye shape that may be seen in most of the other Asian cobras. Moreover, the hood of the king cobra is narrower and longer.[1] A foolproof method of identification is if on the head, clearly visible, is the presence of a pair of large scales known as occipitals, at the back of the top of the head. These are behind the usual "nine-plate" arrangement typical of colubrids and elapids, and are unique to the king cobra.

.... (read more)

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