By Montserrat Arqué
19 Jul 2024, 13:42 PM EDT
In the remote mountains of southern China, a “mysterious” creature with a distinctive yellow “collar” has caught the attention of a group of scientists. The discovery has marked the rediscovery of a species that had not been seen in decades, a find that resonates with the scientific community and highlights the importance of species conservation.
Between 2017 and 2022, a team of researchers made multiple visits to the mountains of Sichuan Province, an area renowned for its rich biodiversity. During these expeditions, the scientists found 3 snakes with distinctive yellow markings. This discovery, documented in a study published July 5 in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution, revealed that the snakes were of the species Calamaria berezowskii, also known as Berezowski’s reed snake.
This species was first identified in 1896, but a lack of subsequent sightings led many to believe that the initial classification had been a mistake. Berezowski’s cane snake had not been seen for at least 26 years, possibly longer, until these researchers rediscovered the species.
Distinctive features of Berezowski’s reed snake
The rediscovered snakes are about a foot long and feature a distinctive yellow “collar” around their necks, “blunt” tails and “elongated” bodies. Their dark brown color allows them to effectively camouflage themselves with leaves on the forest floor. According to the study, the head and tail of these snakes have a strikingly similar appearance, which enhances their camouflage ability.
Reed snakes are rarely seen in the wild due to their subterranean lifestyle and burrowing behavior. These Berezowski’s reed snakes inhabit mountain forests at elevations ranging from 5,500 to 6,000 feet. They have been found in several counties in Sichuan Province, located approximately 1,300 miles southwest of Beijing.
The species is named after Michael Berezowski, a Russian traveler and zoologist who captured the first specimen in the 1890s. Identification of the species was based on its scale pattern, eyes, color, and other subtle physical characteristics. DNA analysis revealed that the Calamaria berezowskii It has at least 17% genetic divergence from other related cane snakes, confirming its status as a unique species.
Importance of its rediscovery
The rediscovery of Berezowski’s cane snake is not only a significant achievement for herpetology, but also underscores the importance of conservation efforts in areas of high biodiversity. This find highlights how species considered lost or extinct may still exist in isolated or unexplored habitats.
The research team that made this discovery included Ya-Ting Liang, Zi-Dan Huang, Li Ding, Gernot Vogel, Natalia Ananjeva, Nikolai Orlov, Sheng-Chao Shi, Zheng-Jun Wu, and Ze-Ning Chen. Their work has not only expanded our knowledge of Sichuan’s biodiversity, but has also provided renewed hope for the conservation of other endangered species.
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