Scientists have identified five mysterious species of the genus Viper Botrykiss They live in the jungles and cloud forests of Colombia and Ecuador.
The eyelash viper is distinguished by a unique feature: a set of huge spine-like scales above the eyes.
These eyelashes give the snake a frightening and ferocious appearance, but the true purpose of this feature is still unknown.
However, what is certain is that certain populations exhibit longer and more stylized eyelashes compared to others.
The changes in the condition of the eyelashes led researchers to hypothesize that an undiscovered species existed.
Eyelash vipers are also famous for another characteristic: they are multicolored. The same patch of rainforest may contain individuals of the turquoise morph, moss morph, or gold morph. They all belong to the same species, even though they have completely different attire.
Alejandro Arteaga, a researcher with the Carmai Foundation and Tropical Helping SA, said: “No two individuals have the same color, even if they belong to the same litter (giving birth to live offspring).”
“Some species have a ‘Christmas’ form, a ghost form, and even a purple form, and different varieties can coexist and even breed with each other.”
“The reasons behind these incredible color changes are still unclear, but it is likely that the pit vipers are able to occupy a wide range of ambush perches, from mossy branches to bright yellow heliconias. is.”
Distribution of palm beetles botry extract schlegeli Species complex including 5 new species.Image credit: Arteaga other., doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527.
The newly identified species of eyelash viper is Botry extract lasix morum, Botrychus crebai, botry extract kwargi, Botrykis Rahimiand botry extract fusaini.
The first three species are endemic to the eastern Columbia Mountains and live in cloud forests and coffee plantations.
Botrykis Rahimi It stands out because it occurs in the remote and pristine Chocó rainforest on the border of Colombia and Ecuador.
botry extract fusaini It lives in the forests of southwestern Ecuador and northwestern Peru.
“The venom of some (perhaps all) of the new viper species is much less lethal and hemorrhagic than the venom of typical vipers. Central American eyelash viper (botry extract schlegeli)” said Tropical Helping SA and Savia Foundation researcher Lucas Bustamante, who was bitten on the finger. Botrykis Rahimi When the photo was taken during a research expedition in 2013.
“There was intermittent localized pain, dizziness and swelling, but after three doses of antivenom within two hours of the sting, it quickly resolved and no scarring remained.”
“One of the key conclusions of the study is that four species in the group face high risk of extinction,” the researchers said.
“Their geographic range is very limited, and 50% to 80% of their habitat has already been destroyed.”
“Therefore, rapid response measures are urgently needed to save remaining habitat.”
of study It was published in the magazine evolutionary systematics.
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A. Arteaga other. 2024. Systematic revision of Eyelash Palm-Pitviper botry extract schlegeli (Serpentes, Viperidae), 5 new species descriptions and 3 revalidations. evolutionary systematics 8 (1): 15-64; doi: 10.3897/evolsyst.8.114527
Source: www.sci.news
