Venomous new snake species accidentally discovered

[JColt]

Bandy-bandy: Venomous new snake species accidentally discovered by scientists immediately declared at risk of extinction


In 2018, a new member of the bandy-bandy snake genus was discovered, and named V. parscauda. The new species was found by Dutch biologist Freek Vonk at Weipa on Cape York Peninsula, near Rio Tinto's bauxite mining operations, and may be endangered.


Scientists say 'enigmatic' species shows 'how little we know about our biodiversity and how much may be lost before we even discover it'

Scientists have stumbled upon a previously undiscovered species of venomous snake, but warned it could already be at risk of extinction.

The new subspecies of bandy-bandy, a family of burrowing snakes endemic to Australia, was found by chance by biologists from the University of Queensland, who have quickly applied for it to be given protected status.

The team came across it while researching sea snakes near Weipa, a mining town on the west coast of the state’s Cape York Peninsula

Rest of Story
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/...tion-queensland-australia-weipa-a8451146.html

 

[snakesareawesome]

So the habitat it lives in is now being protected?

 

[JColt]

Protection Applied For

The biologists this week formally applied for the Queensland government’s Department of Environment and Science to declare the snake a threatened species. The status, if granted, would mean mining companies are required to consider the welfare of the species and avoid destroying its habitat.

 

[Helenthereef]

Only Australians would call it a bandy-bandy!
Very cool though.