‘Secretive’ creature — ‘quite aggressive’ — found lurking in cave. It’s a new species

As the last rays of sunlight slipped below the horizon, a “secretive” creature began moving around a cave in Thailand. The colorful animal searched the rocky area for a meal. But it wasn’t the only one searching that night.

Scientists captured the “aggressive” animal — and discovered a new species.

Researchers visited several caves in Chumphon Province in 2022 and 2023, according to a study published March 27 in the peer-reviewed European Journal of Taxonomy. They were searching for an elusive green snake that was likely being misidentified.

During their surveys, researchers encountered several of these green snakes lurking in a cave, the study said. They captured four snakes and quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Trimeresurus kraensis, or the Kra Isthmus pit viper.

Kra Isthmus pit vipers are “long” and “thin,” reaching up to 21 inches in length, the study said. They have “triangular” heads with “pale copper” eyes.

Co-author Nikolay Poyarkov told McClatchy News that the new species has “a beautiful red and green blotched pattern.”

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Photos show several Kra Isthmus pit vipers. One snake has an olive green coloring with brick red spots and a few light blue scales. Another snake appears more grass green in color with darker brown spots.

Kra Isthmus pit vipers are “highly secretive” and live in rocky caves in the forest, researchers said. Adult snakes were seen “foraging on large karst rocks and walls” at night, while juvenile snakes were seen “perching on small bushes.”

When handled, the Kra Isthmus pit vipers were “quite aggressive,” researchers said. Nothing is known about the venom of the new species. The snake is “most likely a generalist predator.”

Researchers said they named the new species after the Kra Isthmus area where it was discovered, and, so far, it’s the only area where it has been found.

The new species has been found at two caves in Chumphon Province, the study said. This province is about 300 miles southwest of Bangkok and on the Kra Isthmus, a narrow stretch of land that borders Malaysia.

The new species was identified by its coloring, scale pattern, size and other subtle physical features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had a “notable” genetic divergence from other pit vipers.

The research team included Sabira Idiiatullina, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Chatmongkon Suwannapoom, Tanapong Tawan, Lawan Chanhome, Tan Van Nguyen, Patrick David, Gernot Vogel and Nikolay Poyarkov.

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