The reptilian subfamily Crotalinae, commonly known as the pit vipers or the crotaline snakes, consists of venomous vipers like rattlesnakes and lanceheads, and can be found in Eurasia and the Americas. These snakes are named for a special loreal pit organ located between the nostril and the eye, one on each side of the head; these pits are heat-sensing organs that function as the snakes’ “thermal rangefinder,” allowing them to spot their prey even in the absence of substantial light.
Now, new findings published in the journal ZooKeys reveal two new members of the pit viper family tree: the Nujiang pit viper, Gloydius lipipengi, and the glacial pit viper, Gloydius swild.
Biologists and taxonomists currently recognize some twenty (20) members of the genus Gloydius, which are separated into three “complexes,” which are identified with three specific species of Gloydius: the mamushi, or the Japanese pit viper, G. blomhoffii; the Central Asian pit viper, G. intermedius; and the Tibetan pit viper, G. strauchi. Both G. lipipengi and G. swild belong to the Tibetan pit viper group, or the G. strauchi complex of the genus Gloydius.
Said Dr. Jing-Song Shi, co-author and from both the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology and the Shenyang Normal University: “The Nujiang pit viper has a grayish brown back with irregular black ring-shaped crossbands, wide, grayish-brown stripes behind the eyes, and relativity short fangs. […] The Glacier pit viper is blueish-gray, with zigzag stripes on its back, and has relatively narrow stripes behind its eyes.”
The studies of Shi and the team revealed that the Nujiang pit viper has now only been identified from one locality: the village of Muza, in Zayu, Tibet. The glacial pit viper, on the other hand, was found in the eastern part of the Qinghai-Tibet plateau and the mountains of Hengduangshang, in north Sichuan, China.
The team recalled their pleasant views and the experience of traveling high up the mountains to identify these species of snakes. “During the expeditions, we experienced striking views of sacred, crystal-like glacier lakes embraced by mountains, as well as colorful broadleaf-conifer forests and morning mists falling over the village.” They also “enjoyed the kindness and treats” of the hospitable Tibetan locals, which to them made their journey “unforgettable.”
(For similar animal finds, check out our previous piece on “Fernanda,” the (so far) sole survivor of her species, Chelonoidis phantasticus.)
References
- Sci-News. (2021, October 6). Two New Species of Venomous Snakes Discovered. Sci-News. http://www.sci-news.com/biology/two-new-gloydius-species-10142.html
- Shi, J.-S., Liu, J.-C., Giri, R., Owens, J. B., Santra, V., Kuttalam, S., Selvan, M., Guo, K.-J., & Malhotra, A. (2021). Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Gloydius (Squamata, viperidae, crotalinae), with description of two new alpine species from Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. ZooKeys, 1061, 87–108. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1061.70420
