Curious About a Slytherin Snake

What if a new species of snake was discovered? What would you name it? Let your curiosity lead your learning by discovering more about this curiously named animal with this What? to Wow!

What: A new species of pit viper was discovered by a group of curious scientists fond of children's fantasy books.

Who: This new snake was give the scientific name, Trimeresurus salazar named after Salazar Slytherin, one of the founders of Hogwarts and for whom House Slytherin is named after.

How: This Slytherin wasn't discovered by accident--or magic--it was a part of a herpetological expedition by curious scientists in India exploring to find new species and ways to protect known species of animals.

When: News of Salazar was first published in the scientific journal, Zoosystematics and Evolution on April 15, 2020.

Where: The Salazar Slytherin snake was discovered by scientists exploring the Himalayan biodiversity hotspot, Arunachal Pradesh, in northeastern India

Why: This discovery is important for many reasons. One is it demonstrates science can be fun--and scientists don't only read stuffy science books! It also proves there are still more animals in our world to be discovered--and named!--if you're curious enough to look.

Huh?: How can you tell a male Salazar apart from a female Salazar? No lightning bolts, but males have a reddish-orange stripe running down the side of their faces

Wow!: This wasn't the only new species discovered on the Arunachal Pradesh expedition. See if you can find out what the other new species that was discovered.

Nerd Corner:

Read more about this snake's discovery!

Curiosity Based Learning

What? to Wow!

Curiously Named Animals