What for some was a big scare and a state of alarm for not knowing what species it was, for Fred Kraus meant the discovery of a new species of snake, Dendrelaphis atra, or the Atra tree snake. He detailed this in his study published on April 4 in the journal Zootaxa, in which he presented the results of his research conducted during his visit to Misima Island in Papua New Guinea. It is a black arboreal snake that has been found in villages and gardens, as well as at a mining site.
So far, its presence has only been recorded on Misima Island, which can be seen in a video by TVWAN Online shared on YouTube. In addition to the Atra tree snake, Kraus also discovered other species on Rossel Island, Sudest Island, and Woodlark Island.
Ophidiophobia
Have you heard of ophidiophobia? It is the fear of snakes, one of the most common phobias. You may not reach the point of being phobic about them, but you might feel a sense of aversion (as is my case). And I think it is understandable: who would like a reptile that slithers, winds its way around, and in some cases, can even bite you? However, there are those who find them beautiful and feel no aversion at all, which is also fine (as long as they take precautions when dealing with venomous species).
Discovery of new species
The scene of the first sighting of a creature that moved while scanning its surroundings with its large black eyes was a mining site. It undoubtedly caught the attention of those present, but even more so of the scientists. This occurred on Misima Island, off the southeastern coast of Papua New Guinea, where the scientist Fred Kraus traveled to investigate this event. On April 4, a study he conducted during his stay on the island was published in the journal Zootaxa, where he compiled all the information related to this discovery. The purpose of his visit was to study the region’s reptile diversity, without expecting that it would lead him to discover a new species.
Dendrelaphis atra, or the Atra tree snake
Kraus focused on a group of arboreal snakes that, according to him, had a “confusing” classification. These were specimens with white barbels, which he compared with already known species, until he came to the conclusion: he had discovered a new species, Dendrelaphis atra, or the Atra tree snake. According to the study, “Atra tree snakes are considered “moderately large”,reaching approximately 4 feet 1 inch in length,” the study said.
They have black eyes and “matte black” coloration. Unlike other species, Kraus noted, “arboreal snakes darken in color as they age. A smaller, younger snake had a ‘gray-brown’ tone, while the larger snakes were ‘uniformly black.'” The study also specifies that the species was recognized by its size, coloration, scale pattern, and genitalia, excluding a DNA analysis.
More new species
Although information explaining the lifestyle of this new species is still lacking, Kraus explained, “The Atra tree snakes were found around villages and gardens, on a tropical rainforest ridge, and in ‘heavily human-modified habitats at a mining site, including next to a building.'” He also added that the name it received, “Atra,” corresponds to his translation of the Latin word for “black,” honoring its color.
To date, the presence of this species has only been recorded on Misima Island, which can be seen thanks to a TVWAN Online video shared on YouTube. As if the discovery of the Atra tree snake were not enough, Kraus also discovered three other snake species, one on each of Rossel Island, Sudest Island, and Woodlark Island.