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New Wolf Snake Species Endangered on Great Nicobar
Scientists found a new kind of snake called Lycodon irwini on Great Nicobar Island.
It's black, non-venomous, and about 1.2 meters long.
They named it after Steve Irwin, a famous conservationist.
This snake is only found on this one island and is already endangered because the forest it lives in is being destroyed for development projects.
The scientists who discovered it think it's important to protect the snake and its habitat before it's too late.
A new wolf snake species, Lycodon irwini, was discovered and named on Great Nicobar Island, India.
The snake is non-venomous, glossy black, and grows up to 1.2 meters long.
It was named after Steve Irwin, the Australian conservationist, in honor of his work.
The species is classified as endangered due to habitat threats from development projects.
The snake's habitat is the moist evergreen forest, which is being cleared for development.
- Who
- Herpetologists R. S. Naveen, Zeeshan A. Mirza, Girish Choure, and S. R. Chandramouli
- What
- Discovery and naming of a new wolf snake species, Lycodon irwini, on Great Nicobar Island
- Where
- Great Nicobar Island, India
- When
- Discovered and named in 2025, article published on 7 November 2025
- Why
- The species is endangered due to habitat threats from development projects
Key facts
- Species Name
- Lycodon irwini
- Discoverers
- R. S. Naveen, Zeeshan A. Mirza, Girish Choure, S. R. Chandramouli
- Publication Date
- 7 November 2025
- Journal
- Evolutionary Systematics
- Length
- Up to 1.2 meters
- Habitat
- Moist evergreen forest, Great Nicobar Island
- Conservation Status
- Endangered
- Threats
- Habitat destruction due to development projects
Quotes
Romulus Whitaker
Indian herpetologist, Padma Shri awardee
“"Finding an endemic snake species is the proverbial tip of the biodiversity iceberg on Great Nicobar."”
news18.com
Sources
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