In the remote mountains of Sichuan province in southern Chinaa team of scientists found a creature adorned with a yellow “collar” that sparked their curiosity. This discovery marked the reappearance of a species that was thought to be lost to science for decades.
Between 2017 and 2022, researchers conducted several wildlife studies in Sichuan Provincea region renowned for its rich biodiversity. During these studies, they found three snakes with unique yellow markings.
Upon closer examination, scientists identified these reptiles as Calamaria berezowskii, commonly known as the Berezowski’s reed snakeThis species was first described in 1896, but had not been seen for at least 26 years, possibly longer, leading many to believe it was a misclassification.
Characteristics of the Berezowski’s reed snake found in China
The Berezowski’s reed snakes are about 30 cm long and have distinctive features such as a yellow “collar” around their necks, blunt tails and elongated bodies. These physical characteristics match the original description from 1896.
Snakes are generally of dark brown colorallowing them to camouflage themselves on the forest floor, and their heads and tails have a similar appearance.
Habitat and behavior
These snakes are rarely observed in the nature due to their underground lifestyleburrowing habits and elusive nature. Berezowski’s reed snakes inhabit montane forests at elevations between 1,700 and 1,800 meters. They have been found in several counties within Sichuan Province, located about 2,100 kilometers southwest of Beijing.
Meaning of rediscovery
The rediscovered species is named after Michael Berezowski, a Russian traveler and zoologist who captured the first specimen in the 1890s. Identification of Berezowski’s cane snake was confirmed through its scale pattern, eye characteristics, coloration, and other subtle physical traits.
DNA analysis revealed a genetic divergence of at least 17% relative to other related reed snakes, confirming its unique classification.
The study, published in the peer-reviewed journal Zoosystematics and Evolution on July 5, included contributions from Ya-Ting Liang, Zi-Dan Huang, Li Ding, Gernot Vogel, Natalia Ananjeva, Nikolai Orlov, Sheng-Chao Shi, Zheng-Jun Wu, and Ze-Ning Chen.
Other important discoveries
Every year, thousands of new species are discovered, highlighting the vast and often unexplored diversity of life on EarthFor example, notable recent discoveries include a 1.2-metre predator spotted in Bolivia, a brightly coloured sea creature near Japan and a 60cm predator found in a fish trap in China.
The rediscovery of Berezowski’s reed snake underscores the Importance of continuous exploration and the study of the biodiversity of our planet.