Snake With Eyelashes Discovered in Thailand Turns Out To Be a New Species

Although scientists around the world have discovered thousands of species, they are still uncovering new ones today. On September 19, 2023, researchers reported their discovery of a never-before-seen pit viper found in the Satun province of Thailand. The group of nine published their findings in an article in Vertebrate Zoology. The wildlife magazine is dedicated to “ta‍xo‍no‍my, mor‍pho‍logy, an‍at‍omy, phy‍lo‍ge‍ny (mo‍le‍cu‍lar and mor‍pho‍lo‍gy-based), hi‍sto‍ri‍cal bio‍geo‍gra‍phy, and paleontology of ver‍te‍bra‍tes,” per their homepage. As such, it was the perfect place to publish news about the new snake species in Thailand!

What’s Different About the New Snake Species in Thailand?

Common to the area, seeing a pit viper didn’t surprise the scientist. What first caught their eye was the snake’s brilliant emerald green color, but even that was not its unique feature. Upon further inspection, they noticed the snake had scales over the eyes that gave an appearance of eyelashes. Thus, the snake became the limestone eyelash pit viper (Trimeresurus ciliaris). The new snake species looked only slightly different from its cousins, but enough to cause the scientists to take a closer look and begin studying it.

Originally sighted in 2016, the group spent many years analyzing the new snake species both in the wild and in captivity. The main thing that confirmed its new-species status came from comparisons of its DNA to other pit vipers in the region. Scientists are still conducting more research about the preferred habitat and prey items of the new pit viper, along with the toxicity of its venom.

What Does the New Snake Species Look Like?

With bright emerald green and reddish-brown coloration, the snake blends perfectly into the moss-covered limestone rocks on which it was observed. The new pit viper looks similar to several others in the area. Species that look very similar to others are referred to as cryptic species. Cryptic species are nearly indistinguishable in the wild and often require DNA samples to differentiate them.

Like all pit vipers, the new snake species features a triangular head, heat-seeking pits between the eyes and nostrils, and vertical pupils. Their defining feature is the eyelash-like scales over the eyes. The eyelash pit viper of Central and South America also displays these interesting scales, though theirs are more dramatic than those of the new snake. The new pit viper also displays a slightly upturned snout.

A report in the Miami Herald shows some beautiful photos of the new pit viper and the Thai National Park website has already entered the new snake species into their database. Meanwhile, Thai conservation organization, Rabbit in the Moon Foundation, shared the exciting new discovery on their Facebook page.

We look forward to learning more about this stunning new snake species! For now, let’s take a quick look at the three other pit vipers endemic (only found in that area) to the same region.

What Relatives of the New Snake Species Live in the Area?

According to the report published about the new limestone eyelash pit viper, three other species exist in the same area with very similar appearances. Check out each of them below!

Kanburi Pit Viper

First discovered in 1943, the Kanburi pit viper (Trimeresurus kanburiensis) was the first of the four similar-looking pit vipers found in the region. It would be the only species recognized there for nearly 50 years!

Beautiful Pit Viper

The Beautiful pit viper (Trimeresurus venustus) was the second of the four species, discovered in 1991. Some scientists considered it the same as the Kanburi pit viper, but quickly realized it was an entirely new snake species.

Kui Buri Pit Viper

The most recently discovered of the four before the new snake species was the Kui Buri pit viper (Trimeresurus kuiburi). It was first discovered in 2021. Though similarly colored to the new pit viper, it appears to have less vibrant coloration and contrast.

Final Thoughts on the New Snake Species

The discovery of a brand-new snake species is absolutely thrilling! Although humans have discovered thousands of species around the world, there are still new and exciting species to uncover. That fact gives many people the drive to go out and find them! The pit viper family alone already includes 155 (now 156) distinct species. How many more could be out there?

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Thai National Parks, CC BY-SA 4.0 – License / Original