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Salazar Pit Viper

12th July, 2024

Salazar Pit Viper

Source: CNBC

Disclaimer: Copyright infringement not intended.

Context

  • New Salazar Pit Viper species identified in the Kaziranga National Park, Assam named after a ‘Harry Potter’ character boosting the area’s bio-diversity and wildlife conservation.

Details

Key points:

  • Salazar Pit Viper located in Kaziranga National Park, Assam.
  • Originally found in Arunachal Pradesh.
  • Northeast Biodiversity: Another reptile species found in the area for the first time in more than a year.

Salazar Pit Viper:

Scientific Name

Trimeresurus Salazar.

Genus

Family of Trimeresurus Lacepede.

Naming Inspiration

Inspired by the character Salazar Slytherin from Harry Potter book/film series.

Distinctive Features

Green without any contrast that is an orange-red stripe runs along the head.

Venomous Nature

A subfamily of the dangerous snakes possessing thermal organs called pit organs.

Discovery

Discovered by the researched from NCBS Bengaluru and Bombay Natural History Society.

Kaziranga National Park:

Location

Originally found in the Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam state in India.

Brahmaputra River serves as a natural border with the park to the north.

Towards the south of the park there are Karbi Anglong hills.

Landscape

Sheer forest

Tall elephant grass

Rugged reeds

Marshes

Shallow pools

Famous for

The one-horned rhinoceros, it is the largest population of this species of the world which was over 2400 in the year of 2020.

Other wildlife

tigers, elephants panthers, bears, thousands and thousands of birds.

Declared as a National Park

1974

World Heritage Site

This site has been recognized as a world heritage site by the United Nations educational, scientific and cultural organization since the year 1985.

Sources:

CNBC

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. Consider the following statements about the Salazar Pit Viper:

1.It is a newly discovered species of viper named after a character in a classic novel.

2.It is endemic to the Western Ghats mountain range in India.

Which of the following statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) None

Answer: (a)