New non-venomous snake species discovered in New Guinea forests

Researchers have identified a new species of non-venomous snake, Lielaphis slashi, in the tropical forests of New Guinea. The species is named after Saul Hudson, known as Slash, the guitarist of Guns N' Roses, in recognition of his support for zoological museums and his interest in reptiles. The findings were published in the journal Zootaxa. The snake measures approximately 71 centimeters in length and features a red-brown coloration. The first specimen was spotted in 2006 by herpetologist Chris Austin from Louisiana State University (LSU). Because members of this genus are nocturnal, the discovery occurred during night field work at the base of large trees shortly after sunset. To confirm the discovery of a new species, a team led by Sarah Ruan from the Field Museum of Chicago conducted a comprehensive analysis. Because external physical traits alone were insufficient, the researchers utilized genetic analysis and ecological modeling. This evidence demonstrated that L. slashi differs genetically from related species, possesses a distinct scale count, and prefers a different habitat.