Conservationists call for urgent measures to safeguard the declining population of Olive Ridley turtles
New snake species found in China
Chinese scientists have discovered a new species of brownish pit viper in the largest scientific study since the 1970s on wildlife at Mount Everest, known in China as Mount Qomolangma.
Published : 18 April 2014, 04:58 AM
Updated : 18 April 2014, 04:58 AM
A genetic analysis revealed Protobothrops Himalayanus, which was first spotted at Jilong Valley in southern Tibet in 2012, to be a new snake species, Hu Huijian, co-chief of the research team, told Xinhua.
The new species was named in honour of its home, the Himalayas, said Hu.
The discovery, published in "Asian Herpetological Research", an international authoritative academic journal, is more evidence of Tibet's biodiversity, he added.
Currently, there are 12 valid species in the genus Protobothrops, of which seven are known to inhabit China and many of them prefer mountain areas at high elevations.
RELATED STORIES
The court issues a rule asking why the failure of the authorities to prevent the mistreatment of elephants should not be deemed illegal
The escaped lion made its way into the basement of a nearby building after roaming on the road for some time
It is unclear whether the lioness posed a threat, or whether authorities had tried to use a tranquiliser dart to catch it alive
