Striking new species of viper discovered in Tanzania

The authors are keeping the exact location of the new species a secret, since the snake could be of interest to illegal pet collectors. Credit Michele Menegon/WCS

January 2012. The  Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) have announced the discovery of a spectacularly coloured snake in a remote area of Tanzania in East Africa. The striking black-and-yellow snake is called Matilda's horned viper. It measures 2.1 feet (60 centimetres) and has horn-like scales above its eyes.

The discovery is described in the December issue of Zootaxa. Authors of the study include: Michele Menegon of Museo delle Scienze of Trento, Italy; Tim Davenport of the  Wildlife Conservation Society; and Kim Howell of the University of Dar es Salaam.

Critically Endangered
The authors are keeping the exact location of the new species a secret, since the snake could be of interest to the illegal pet collectors. Its habitat, estimated at only a few square miles is already severely degraded from logging and charcoal manufacture. The authors expect the species will be classified as critically endangered and have already established a small captive breeding colony.

The snake is named after the daughter of co-author Tim Davenport, Director of WCS's Tanzania Program. For more information about the snake, go to: http://www.atherismatildae.org/

Newly discovered Matilda's horned viper - Photo credit Michele Menegon/WCS