PIXABAY
The Andes of Ecuador are inhabited by a group of snakes belonging to the genus attractive. This group of land snakes is the most species-rich in the world (there are now 150 known species across the planet), but few have seen or even heard of their existence. Probably because they are shy and stay hidden most of their lives.
Alexandre Arteaga, researcher at the Khamai Foundation, leads a research team that discovered three new cryptozoic snakes — which live underground — hidden under cemeteries and churches in the remote villages of the Andes. The study was published in the journal Zoo Keys.
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new snakes
“This discovery is only the first step towards a much larger conservation project. Now, thanks to the encouragement of the Zoological Society for the Conservation of Species and Populations (ZGAP), we have begun the process of establishing a nature reserve to protect the earth snakes. This action would not have been possible without first revealing the existence of these unique and enigmatic reptiles, even if it meant momentarily disturb the peace of the dead in the cemetery where they livedsaid Arteaga.
The new snakes were found by chance in the crypts and are small, cylindrical and quite archaic in appearance. Diego Pinán, a teacher from the town where one of these new reptiles was found, says: “When I first arrived in El Chaco in 2013, I saw a lot of dead snakes on the road; others were beaten with machetes or stones. Now, after years of talking about the importance of snakes, children and their parents, while remaining wary, they cherish them and protect them.
Piñán kept the dead snakes he found in bottles filled with alcohol and Arteaga then used them to describe one of the species as new to science.
A destroyed habitat for these reptiles
Another aspect described in Arteaga’s study is that most of the new snakes’ natural habitat has been destroyed. Due to the removal of the treeline, terrestrial snakes are forced to take refuge in spaces used by humans (living and dead), where they usually die.
In this particular case, two of the new snakes face a high risk of extinction in a close future. All three species are named for institutions or individuals that support the exploration and conservation of remote cloud forests in the tropics.
the earth snake Discovery of Atractus was found hiding underground in a small cemetery in an isolated village, while the other two were found in an old church and a small school. attractive was named in honor of the Discovery Expedition Grants Initiative explorers cluba grants program that supports researchers and explorers around the world in their quest to mitigate climate change, prevent the extinction of species and cultures, and ensure the health of the Earth and its inhabitants.
For its part, Atractus zgap It is called ZGAP, a conservation program for unknown but highly endangered species. Ultimately, Atractus michaelsabini It bears the name of a young nature lover, Michael Sabingrandson of American philanthropist and environmentalist Andrew ‘Andy’ Sabin.
“Naming species is at the heart of biology. No study is truly complete if it does not include species names and most of those that share the planet with us are not described.concludes Juan M. Guayasamin, co-author of the study and professor at the Universidad San Francisco de Quito (Ecuador).
Character font: SINC Agency
Reference article: https://www.agenciasinc.es/Noticias/Tres-nuevas-especies-de-serpientes-se-ocultaban-en-cementerios-e-iglesias-de-Ecuador