Trimeresurus Salazar: New Species of green pit viper found

Trimeresurus Salazar: New Species of green pit viper found

Part of: GS Prelims and GS-III – Biodiversity

In News:

• A new species of green pit viper has been discovered in Arunachal Pradesh recently which was named Trimeresurus Salazar.

• It has been collected from the Pakke Tiger Reserve in Pakke-Kessang district in Arunachal Pradesh. 

Important value additions:

Trimeresurus Salazar – Green pit viper

• Green pit viper is a common name for several venomous snakes and may refer to:

• • Trimeresurus albolabris (native to southeastern Asia from India to China and Indonesia)
  • Trimeresurus macrops (native to Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam)
  • Trimeresurus trigonocephalus (endemic to Sri Lanka)
  • And, now, newly discovered Trimeresurus Salazar (Arunachal Pradesh)

• Salazar’s pit viper belongs to the genus Trimeresurus Lacépède.
• They are morphologically and ecologically diverse species.
• They are distinguished by their heat-sensing pit organs between the eye and the nostril.
• IUCN status of Trimeresurus Salazar: yet to be known.

Daily Current Affairs IAS | UPSC Prelims and Mains Exam – 18th April 2020

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