New Green Pit Viper Discovered in Northeast India

Researchers have identified a new species of green pit viper in the forests of northeast India, naming it Trimeresurus salazar after Salazar Slytherin, a fictional character from the Harry Potter series.

Salazar Slytherin: The Inspiration Behind the Name

For those unfamiliar, Salazar Slytherin was one of the founding figures of Hogwarts, a great wizard known for his affinity for snakes. The founder of Slytherin House, one of Hogwarts’ four houses, was notorious for being slippery and cunning. His house colors, green and silver, are perfectly reflected in this newly discovered snake.

Characteristics of Trimeresurus salazar

The official name Trimeresurus salazar translates to Salazar’s pit viper. This genus of vipers is distributed across East and Southeast Asia. Scientists describe them as “charismatic” and “venomous.” Nevertheless, they typically prefer solitude, with some exceptions like the white-lipped viper that often confronts humans rather than retreating.

A Unique Discovery

At present, there are over 48 known species of pit vipers, 15 of which inhabit India. During a night expedition, researchers from the National Centre for Biological Sciences and the Bombay Natural History Society discovered this exceptional species. Notably, the orange-red stripe on the male’s head is a distinguishing feature not observed in other known pit vipers.

Habitat: A Biodiversity Hotspot

The discovery occurred near the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. As a biodiversity hotspot adjacent to the Himalayas, this region remains one of India’s least explored areas. The recent identification of this pit viper adds to the region’s already intriguing biodiversity.

The Importance of Conservation

This new species sheds light on the importance of biodiversity documentation and conservation. Lead researcher Dr. Zeeshan A. Mirza highlighted that future dedicated surveys in northeastern India will help document the biodiversity that is currently under threat due to development activities such as road widening, agriculture, and hydro-electric projects.

The team’s findings are documented in a recent research paper published in the open-access journal Zoosystematics and Evolution. For further reading, you can access the full paper here.