
There are innumerable snake species in South America, and the Amazon River is no exception.
New research confirms the presence of a previously unrecognized species of snake; its discovery in Bolivia resulted in the accidental killing of the lone four-foot-long specimen.
The results were published in the Herpetozoa journal on July 10. They described the findings from the 2015 hunt for uncommon reptiles in La Paz. As the reporting said, the snake was accidentally severed into two pieces by local guides in the region.
Feeling threatened, this particular snake remained motionless, mimicking one of the branches of the shrub it was on. Unfortunately, this behavior went unnoticed by the guide, resulting in the unfortunate accident. In clearing a path close to the camp, a wildlife guide chopped the snake in two.
According to the study published in Herpetozoa, the discovery of the specimen was the first report of an Oxybelis inkaterra—a vine snake—in the country.
An image of a brown and cream snake with black spots coiled around a branch has surfaced online.
As a result of their long tails, elongated heads, and attenuated slim bodies, vine snakes are pretty cryptic.
They feed on a wide variety of tiny vertebrates, such as birds, amphibians, mammals, and lizards.
The research found that vine snakes’ ability to imitate their natural environment makes them challenging to spot and catch during the day.
Although vine snakes may be found in Bolivia’s Amazonian forests, Yungas, and riparian forests in the floodplains, not much is known about their past in the nation.
In addition to the 2005 encounter, the investigation verified two further sightings in Bolivia, the second of which had no specific date or place.
After examining the carcass more closely, scientists determined that the Inkaterra vine snake, formally known as Oxybelis inkaterra, was the first of its kind to be recorded in the nation.
The report also noted the discovery of inkaterra vine snakes in Ecuador and Peru. Two additional Inkaterra vine snakes were uncovered in museum archives; one was found in Bolivia in 2005, and the other did not specify when or where it was captured.