A new serpent has been discovered in the jungle, named after a well-known rock musician. Researchers at the Field Museum in Chicago have christened a newly unearthed, harmless groundsnake from New Guinea as Lielaphis slashi, paying homage to Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. The snake, measuring around 71 centimeters in length with a reddish-brown hue, is now officially recognized as Slash’s groundsnake.
For Slash, this acknowledgment holds personal significance. The Field Museum highlights him as an enthusiast of reptiles and a strong supporter of zoos and museums. Slash, who has openly displayed his fascination with snakes in both his music and personal life, expressed his gratitude for having a snake named after him, stating it was an unexpected and thrilling moment.
Sara Ruane, the Field Museum’s associate curator of herpetology and lead author of a study published in Zootaxa introducing the new species, shared that her interest in reptiles began at a young age. She recalled being inspired by Slash when she received a magazine featuring him with his pet python on the cover. Ruane mentioned that naming a snake after Slash was a fun idea she had since then, and it was a privilege to be able to do so now.
The snake was initially encountered in 2006 during fieldwork in New Guinea by Chris Austin, a professor and curator of herpetology at Louisiana State University’s Museum of Natural Science. The island, known for its rich biodiversity, posed challenges for researchers due to the presence of similar-looking venomous snake species and the elusive nature of snakes in their habitat. Genetic analysis revealed that Lielaphis slashi was genetically distinct from other snakes in its genus.
Conservationists emphasize that Slash’s groundsnake does not pose a threat to humans but faces risks from habitat destruction caused by industries like coffee farming and mining. Naming the snake after Slash not only pays tribute to the rock star but also serves to raise awareness about the ecosystem where these snakes reside and the need for conservation efforts.