Thailand : the discovery of an unprecedented snake

Two fishermen have discovered a new species of snake in Thailand, with "blade-like" fangs and strong scales on its abdomen for "climbing vertical rocks."

“This snake is particularly adapted to life in this harsh environment,” said one of the reptile hunters, who named the discovered species “Kukri Cave Snake” or Oligodon speleoserpens.

Evolutionary biologists, who helped the hunters classify the new snake, said the "large, blade-shaped upper teeth" provided strong evidence of an entirely new species.

Harry Ward-Smith, a young herpetologist who worked with the snake education team in Thailand, reported that the "Kukri Cave Snake" was seen climbing a dangerous cliff.

He said: "I knew the importance of this snake, and I did not allow it to escape under any circumstances."

Robert Grasby Lewis, a herpetologist and tour guide, explained that the new snake mostly preys on the eggs of two local species of gecko, Cnemaspis and Cyrtodactylus.

Scientists said that more specimens of the snake may be found deep in caves in the mountains.

“This speculation can only be confirmed if additional observations on O. speleoserpens are made in the future,” they wrote in their paper published in the Journal of Vertebrate Zoology.