03-04-2025
Pregnant creature with venomous bite found in Peru mountains. It's a new species
On a mountain ridge in Peru, a 1-foot-long creature with a venomous bite sat in the afternoon sun. Its 'distinct' yellow-ringed eyes scanned its surroundings, but it wasn't the only one looking around.
Passing scientists noticed the 'smooth' animal; they didn't know it at the time, but they'd just discovered a new species.
Researchers visited several sites throughout Peru between 2000 and 2012 in search of snakes and sent their specimens to a museum. Years later, the team realized it might have misidentified some animals, according to a study published April 2 in the peer-reviewed journal Taxonomy.
To sort it out, researchers took a closer look at the museum specimens, tested their DNA, compared photos of the live snakes and reread their notes from the field, the study said.
Slowly, a pattern began to emerge; some of the snakes were subtly but consistently different from all known species. Researchers realized they'd discovered a new species: Tachymenoides goodallae, or Goodall's slender snake.
Goodall's slender snakes are 'smooth,' reaching up to about 22 inches in length, the study said. They have brown eyes with a 'distinct yellowish-tan ringlet.'
Photos show the coloring of the new species. Seen from above, the snakes vary from 'olive brown to pale grayish brown with scattered black and cream flecks.' Seen from below, their coloring is even more 'highly variable,' with bellies ranging from 'uniformly black' to tan or gray.
Researchers said they named the new species after Jane Goodall 'for her scientific accomplishments and worldwide conservation activism, which inspire and encourage people to protect biodiversity … We hope that our dedication to Dr. Jane Goodall helps to create awareness for the protection of snakes, many of which are killed out of fear.'
Goodall's slender snakes live in mountain forests between elevations of about 7,100 to 10,000 feet, the study said. They are 'venomous but harmless to humans.'
One male snake was 'found in the afternoon sun, basking,' researchers said. Two female snakes were found pregnant with five or six 'yolky eggs.'
Goodall's slender snakes have a 'large' distribution from central to southern Peru, the study said.
The new species was identified by its eyes, teeth, coloring, scale pattern, genitalia and other subtle physical features, the study said. Researchers did not provide a DNA analysis of the new species.
The research team included Edgar Lehr, Mikael Lundberg, Juan Carlos Cusi, Jack Sites Jr., Claudia Torres and César Aguilar-Puntriano.
