Scientists discover new viper species on Everest
Print Edition
A SPECIES of pit viper new to science has been discovered by Chinese researchers in the largest scientific study of wildlife on Mount Everest since the 1970s.
A genetic analysis revealed Protobothrops himalayanus, which was first spotted at Jilong Valley in southern Tibet Autonomous Region in 2012, to be a new snake species, Hu Huijian, co-chief of the research team, told Xinhua news agency yesterday.
The new species was named in honor of its home, the Himalayas, said Hu, a researcher of the South China Institute of Endangered Animals.
Featuring a round head and copper-colored eyes, the adult Protobothrops himalayanus is about 1.5 meters in length. Mostly living on the south flank of the Himalayas, the reptile is reported to be aggressive.
“Local people called it Ôthe holy dragon of the Himalayas’ and they always show great respect toward the creature,” Hu said.
The discovery, published in “Asian Herpetological Research,” an international authoritative academic journal, is more evidence of Tibet’s biodiversity, he said.
Currently, there are 12 valid species in the genus Protobothrops, of which seven are known to inhabit China.
Many of them prefer mountainous areas.
Since the expedition started in October 2010, the team has traveled an area of 32,000 square kilometers and discovered and identified 499 species of vertebrates, including eight species of fish, said Hu.
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