Snake Species With Pitch Black Eyes Discovered in Andes
Posted on December 3, 2015
Scientists have discovered a new snake species with pitch black eyes in the forests of the Andes. The snake species is non-venomous. It measures less than 40 centimeters (about 16 inches) in length.
The snake has large bulging eyes that are black making it difficult to tell the pupil and iris apart. The upper part of the snake body is grayish-brown. The abdominal side of the snake has a yellowish-white coloration.
The snake species has been named Synophis zaheri. The species is named after Dr. Hussam El-Dine Zaher, a Brazilian herpetologist.
The snakes were found active by night in an evergreen foothill forest, with a canopy cover between 70 and 100%. A research paper on the new species can be found here in the journal, ZooKeys.
Photo: Dr. R. Alexander Pyron