A striking new species of wolf snake has been uncovered in the forests of Great Nicobar, the southernmost of the Nicobar Islands – an archipelago found off the northern tip of Sumatra in the Indian Ocean.
The glossy black snake reaches about a metre in length and is harmless to humans. It feeds on reptiles, amphibians and small mammals that inhabit the island’s thick, evergreen forest.
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The species, described in the journal Evolutionary Systematics, is thought to occur only on Great Nicobar. Its restricted range and exposure to human pressures mean the authors say it should be considered Endangered.
Researchers R. S. Naveen and S. R. Chandramouli of the Pondicherry University, Zeeshan A. Mirza of the Max Planck Institute for Biology, and Girish Choure of Pune have named the species Irwin’s wolf snake (Lycodon irwini), honouring the late Steve Irwin, the famous Australian television personality, conservationist and wildlife educator.
"His passion and dedication to wildlife education and conservation have inspired naturalists and conservationists worldwide, including the authors of the paper,” says the team.
Top image: Lycodon irwini. Credit: Girish Choure
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