Trimeresurus Salazar

Published: 27th Apr, 2020

Recently, a team of researchers has discovered a new species of venomous snake in Arunachal Pradesh and named it Trimeresurus Salazar.

Context

Recently, a team of researchers has discovered a new species of venomous snake in Arunachal Pradesh and named it Trimeresurus Salazar.

About

The venomous snake was discovered in the thick evergreen forests of the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh during a field expedition by researchers in July 2019.
The new species is named after J.K. Rowling’s fictional Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry’s co-founder, Salazar Slytherin.
The new species belongs to the group of green pit vipers from which it differs from its closely related species in bearing a rusty red or orange lateral stripe along the head and the entire body.
The Salazar pit viper belongs to a genus of "charismatic venomous serpents with morphologically as well as ecologically diverse species."
The comparison of DNA sequences and skull morphology of closely related species highlights the distinctness of the new species.
This pit viper has orange to reddish stripe near its lips. It has more teeth compared to the other venomous snakes.
This new pit viper happens to be the fifth variety of reptile to have been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh in a little more than a year.

What are Pit Vipers?

Pit vipers are some of the most beautiful, and most dangerous, snakes in the world. They exist on several different continents, and within a wide variety of habitats.
All of the snakes in this group are members of the Viperidaefamily of snakes -- vipers for short. But not all of the Viperidae are pit vipers.
They are masters of the hunt, armed with some amazing "tools" for finding and killing their prey.
Pit vipers are widespread throughout the world. These venomous snakes can be found across parts of Europe, Asia, and both North and South America.
They have adapted to survive in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from deserts to jungle.
About 15 pit viper snakes are found in India, seven of which have been found in northeast before.

Pakke Tiger Reserve:

Pakke Tiger Reserve lies in the foothills of the Eastern Himalaya in the East Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
It is considered one of the best protected national parks in the country. Pakke is also known for its amazing sightings of four resident hornbill species.
While the new discovery is indeed exciting for herpetology experts, it also raises concern on the loss of habitat in the region.
It is where a highway between Sejosa and Bhalokpong is threatened to cut through Pakke Tiger Reserve, where a lot of reptiles thrive.

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