Dwarf boa

In News: A new species of dwarf boa has been discovered in the upper Amazon basin, reported a paper published in the journal European Journal of Taxonomy.

Dwarf Boa:

• The snake from the Tropidophiidae family was found in the cloud forest in northeastern Ecuador and was up to 20 centimetres long.
• Tropidophis cacuangoae can be identified from other reptiles in the same genus based on its external features and bone structure.
• Its colouring is primarily light brown with darker brown or black blotches — similar to a boa constrictor.
• The species inhabits eastern tropical piedmont and lower evergreen montane forests in the Amazon tropical rainforest biome
• It is suspected to be an Ecuadorian endemic.
• Both specimens were found within 50 kilometres of each other — Colonso Chalupas national reserve and in the private Sumak Kawsay park.
• The species is unusual for having a “vestigial pelvis”, which is characteristic of primitive snakes.
• This could be evidence that snakes descended from lizards that lost their limbs over millions of years.
• The snake’s name honours Dolores Cacuango, an early 20th-century pioneer in the fight for indigenous and farmers’ rights in Ecuador.
• The discovery of T cacuangoae demonstrates that small and cryptic vertebrates can undergo large periods of time without being detected.
• The discovery of this new species highlights a critical need to accelerate research in remote areas where information gaps remain but are suspected of harbouring high biodiversity and are severely threatened by human impacts

Source: DTE

Previous Year Question

Q.1) Consider the following statements: (2019)

1. Some species of turtles are herbivores.
2. Some species of fish are herbivores.
3. Some species of marine mammals are herbivores.
4. Some species of snakes viviparous.

Which of the statements given above arc correct?

1. 1 and 3 only
2. 2, 3 and 4 only
3. 2 and 4 only
4. 1, 2, 3 and 4