According to a scientific report published in the journal Zootaxa , scientists and biologists from many countries including Vietnam, Russia and France have conducted research on the morphological, biological and genetic data of the Truong Son green snake, also known as the jade tree snake, scientific name Gonyosoma iadinum.
Based on detailed morphological evidence and mitochondrial DNA analysis, scientists identified this as a new species of snake, found only in Vietnam and Laos, in dense forests at altitudes of 655 to 1,780m in the Truong Son mountain range.
The Truong Son green snake has a body color that can be easily confused with the extremely poisonous red-tailed green pit viper (Photo: AM Bragin, NA Poyarkov, HH Nguyen and HA Vu).
Master Nguyen Van Tan, (Duy Tan University, Da Nang), a member of the research team, said that in Vietnam, the Truong Son green snake was found on the Kon Tum - Gia Lai plateau, Langbiang plateau, Chu Yang Sin National Park (Dak Lak), Ta Dung National Park (Dak Nong), Bidoup - Nui Ba National Park (Lam Dong), Hon Ba Nature Reserve (Khanh Hoa), Ba Na - Nui Chua Nature Reserve (Da Nang).
Master Tan said this snake species is also found in Khammouan and Champasak provinces of Laos, close to the Vietnam border.
According to the published report, the Truong Son green snake is medium in size, with a maximum length of about 1.04m. This snake has a slender body, a long, slender head that is not distinct from the neck, large eyes, and a thick tail that is capable of grasping.
This snake has a color that varies from yellowish green to green, which helps them hide and camouflage in tall trees. However, this color makes it easy for the Truong Son green snake to be confused with the red-tailed green pit viper, a species of viper that possesses venom dangerous to humans.
In fact, the Truong Son snake is a species of water snake, not possessing venom.
The researchers said the snake was named the jade tree snake because it lives in trees and has eyes and body color that resemble polished jade. It is a diurnal snake and hunts during the day.
According to Master Nguyen Van Tan, the discovery of a new snake species not only contributes to biodiversity, but is also evidence that the Truong Son range is an important hotspot for biodiversity and that measures need to be taken to conserve forests in this area to avoid losing the habitat of animals.
This newly recognized snake species is threatened by habitat loss, mortality from human activities, and occasional mistaken killing by humans due to its resemblance to the red-tailed pit viper. However, researchers still classify this snake as “Least Concern” because the population is still large enough.
The research team on the Truong Son green snake species includes Nguyen Van Tan (Duy Tan University, Da Nang); Tran Tuan Anh (Center for Sustainable Development Education , Hanoi); Le Dac Xuan (Vietnam - Russia Tropical Science and Technology Research Center, Hanoi); Patrick David (National Museum of Natural History, France); Nikolay A. Poyarkov, Andrey M. Bragin and Sabira S. Idiiatullina (Moscow State University, Russia).
Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/nha-khoa-hoc-viet-va-cong-su-tim-ra-loai-ran-moi-vo-hai-nhung-giong-ran-doc-20250810173558963.htm
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