Pictures: New Horned Viper Found in "Secret" Spot

Stream Hunter

Photograph courtesy Michele Menegon, Science Museum of Trento/WCS

A female Matilda's horned viper slithers along a stream, where it's believed the snakes ambush frogs at night.

The snake's exact location is being kept secret, partly to protect the animal from pet collectors, Davenport said.

African bush vipers are popular pets in many countries. Yet capturing the animals in their natural habitat—part of a global trend in wildlife trade—is "having a devastating effect on wild populations," Davenport said on his website.

"So much so," he said, "that in many parts of Africa, [wildlife trade] is the single biggest threat to the existence of many species in the wild."

(Related: "Pictures: Baby Gorilla Rescued in Armed Sting Operation.")

Published December 30, 2011

Tree Dweller

Photograph courtesy Michele Menegon, Science Museum of Trento/WCS

Matilda's horned viper (pictured, a female on a branch) sticks mostly to trees, though bigger individuals are thought to spend more time in ground burrows.

Scientists still know little about the snake's biology, other than the fact it's venomous, like all vipers.

(See "New Pit Viper Found-One of World's Smallest.")

Published December 30, 2011

S for Snake

Photograph courtesy Michele Menegon, Science Museum of Trento/WCS

Male Matilda's horned vipers (such as the one pictured) are usually darker than females, with bigger heads.

Due to the snake's shaky future, Davenport and others have started a small captive breeding program for the species in Tanzania.

"This is intended not only as [an] 'insurance population' to protect the new species from overexploitation, but also to facilitate the conservation of its threatened habitat so that this unique animal can persist in the wild," Davenport said on his website.

"The ultimate goal is also to raise awareness and support for an in situ, community-based forest conservation programme, including community support, education, and forest management."

(Read about an African-antelope conservation effort shepherded by Somali herders.)

Published December 30, 2011

Grounded

Photograph courtesy Michele Menegon, Science Museum of Trento/WCS

The new viper species (pictured, a female) lives in a rain forest remnant interspersed with plateau grasslands.

The forest fragment may have been naturally isolated over time from a wider landscape, suggesting the snake is only found in this particular block of wilderness.

(Also see "World's Biggest Snake Lived in 1st 'Modern' Rain Forest.")

Published December 30, 2011

Fragmented Forest

Photograph courtesy Michele Menegon, Science Museum of Trento/WCS

Just a few fragments remain of the snake's original rain forest habitat (pictured).

Davenport said that finding the new snake provides "hope and inspiration" for conservationists.

"Learning about our environment has never been so important, and understanding what exists in our planet is the first step toward being able to ensure its integrity."

(See a map of the world's tropical rain forests.)

Published December 30, 2011