“Baffling” New Species of Snake Discovered in Myanmar

Scitech Daily ^ | JANUARY 28, 2024 | PENSOFT PUBLISHERS

[Zhang Fei]

There are probably downsides，but some animals are resistant to snake venom

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[Drabeck wasn’t surprised by these mutations, but she was surprised when she compared the honey badger’s tweaks to those found in other mammals. These tweaks had evolved independently in at least four species: honey badgers, mongooses, hedgehogs, and pigs. The hedgehog—which loves to eat venomous snakes—wasn’t a surprise. But the pig? “We were pretty excited by that,” says Drabeck. She hadn’t expected pigs to have molecular defenses against venom; biologists knew wild pigs could survive snakebites but assumed that was because their thick skin and fat acts like armor against fangs. But wild pigs, like honey badgers, have long shared the same parts of the world as venomous snakes—giving them an incentive to evolve venom resistance. And that in turn has given the snakes an incentive to evolve more toxic venom.]

[READINABLUESTATE]

Sorry, I was just referring to the bitey ones.

[thesligoduffyflynns]

you must know your snakes well!

ok, heres my question obviously, theres mmore than one snake in this group, but what is it that classifies them as “ pit”? ,
ive never heard of that & would like to expand my knowledge bank🙋

[Olog-hai]

Well, pit vipers have little heat-sensing “pits” on either side of their face; on this rattlesnake, the pit is visible on the lower part of the face between the eye and the nostril. The snake uses them to detect body heat from prey or possible threats.

[RitchieAprile]

Looks like a vambu viper..

[Salamander]

God made a new snek.
Film at 11.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Red Badger. Apparently this viper had dodged identification until recently.

[Red Badger]

[ComputerGuy]

My family was stationed in Bangkok in the early sixties. Around our house we had Russell’s Vipers, Banded Kraits and Cobras.

[Texan5]

That is a beautiful snake-but I will only admire it from a distance-preferably in a zoo...

[Red Badger]

behind thick glass.....................