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Masquerading, deadly snake discovered and named after shape-shifting Chinese goddess
https://www.livescience.com ^ | 08 April 2021 | By Harry Baker

Posted on 04/08/2021 9:43:55 AM PDT by Red Badger

The new species was once believed to be another, much less deadly snake.

A deadly new snake has been discovered after spending decades masquerading as a much less dangerous species, according to researchers โ€” who named the snake after a shape-shifting serpent goddess from a Chinese folktale.

The new species is a type of krait snake found in Southwest China and northern Myanmar and had previously been categorized as the many-banded krait (Bungarus multicinctus). However, morphological and genetic differences, as well as a particularly painful and deadly bite, were enough to classify this reptile as its own species.

The researchers named the new snake Suzhen's krait (Bungarus suzhenae) after Bai Su Zhen โ€” a powerful snake goddess from a traditional Chinese myth.

"It is very dangerous," study researcher Gernot Vogel, of the Society for Southeast Asian Herpetology in Germany, told Live Science. "Because kraits are highly lethal, understanding their species diversity and geographic distribution is vital for saving human lives."

Researchers hope the new classification will enable local communities to identify the deadly snake and avoid potentially fatal interactions, as well as help scientists to develop a new antivenom to treat Suzhen's krait bites.

(Excerpt) Read more at livescience.com ...


TOPICS: Gardening; Health/Medicine; Outdoors; Pets/Animals
KEYWORDS:
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To: monkeyshine

Get bitten by that one and you will have a smile on your face for 24 hours or so!


21 posted on 04/08/2021 11:06:45 AM PDT by 17th Miss Regt
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To: a fool in paradise

The thing is that the original snake is not harmless. I don’t believe any Krait is harmless. It was just less harmless than this new species.


22 posted on 04/08/2021 11:56:47 AM PDT by tarawa
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To: tarawa

kinda like demonrats...


23 posted on 04/08/2021 12:06:46 PM PDT by heavy metal (smiling improves your face value as well as making people wonder what the hell you're up to... ๐Ÿ˜)
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To: gundog

“cloaca”

I did not know that word. But it sounds...efficient.


24 posted on 04/08/2021 12:15:24 PM PDT by moovova (Yo GOP....we won't forget.)
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To: Red Badger

Krait Balls of Fire!


25 posted on 04/08/2021 12:44:01 PM PDT by rfp1234 (Caveat Emperor: Comitii asinorum atque rhinocerorum delendi sunt.)
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To: Red Badger

How long before the ChiComs are sending these here?


26 posted on 04/08/2021 1:05:18 PM PDT by SharpRightTurn (Election Fraud Deniers--Won't follow the science, won't follow the law.)
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To: moovova

Works well for birds, reptiles and amphibians. Maybe even marsupials.


27 posted on 04/08/2021 1:15:17 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Red Badger

I’m confused... Is this about Pelousy or Feinstein...


28 posted on 04/08/2021 2:40:40 PM PDT by SuperLuminal (Where is another Samuel Adams now that we desperately need him?)
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To: gundog

Hey, we’re trying to keep this a family friendly channel here.


29 posted on 04/08/2021 3:03:12 PM PDT by BipolarBob (Biden/Harris - the regime our Founding fathers warned us about.)
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To: BipolarBob

The Bidens are a family Just sayinโ€™.


30 posted on 04/08/2021 4:31:05 PM PDT by gundog (It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. )
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To: Red Badger

“The new species was once believed to be another, much less deadly snake.”

Reptilian appropriation.


31 posted on 04/08/2021 4:43:06 PM PDT by PLMerite ("They say that we were Cold Warriors. Yes, and a bloody good show, too." - Robert Conquest )
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To: Red Badger

Had it. Done it. I think they called it Suzhen chicken.


32 posted on 04/08/2021 4:47:17 PM PDT by Starstruck ( Since I'm old I don't whether I'm senile or brilliant. Or happily both.)
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To: Red Badger
we can't name viruses on regions but we can name animals as long as they're Chinese? why not a Buddhist/Burmese-derived name?

otoh, linking a deadly chameleon snake with China seems an rather appropriate association

33 posted on 04/08/2021 5:24:58 PM PDT by blueplum ("...this moment is your moment: it belongs to you... " President Donald J. Trump, Jan 20, 2017) )
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To: BuffaloJack

You mean “Mr. Wait-a-Minute”.


34 posted on 04/08/2021 6:23:10 PM PDT by .44 Special (Tp)
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To: .44 Special

Hey sarge, what kinda snake is that?
Mr. Wait-a-Minute.
Wait-a-Minute?
Yeh, he bites you, you may as well sit down ‘cause a minute is about all you got left.

Many thanks to 1stSgt Right-on Washington. Right on mofo!


35 posted on 04/08/2021 6:33:15 PM PDT by .44 Special (Tp)
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