Achalinus zugorum is a species of snake in the family Xenodermidae. The species, which was described in 2020 from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, was discovered by Aryeh H. Miller.[1][2][3] It is dark in color or iridescent, with scales morphing from blues to greens.[4] It is named for George R. and Patricia B. Zug.[1][2] Accordingly, the common name Zugs' odd-scaled snake has been coined for this species.[2]
| Achalinus zugorum | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification 
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Squamata |
| Suborder: | Serpentes |
| Family: | Xenodermidae |
| Genus: | Achalinus |
| Species: | A. zugorum
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| Binomial name | |
| Achalinus zugorum | |
The holotype, an adult male, measures 353 mm (13.9 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL) and 458 mm (18.0 in) in total length (including tail). A. zugorum is characterized by its odd non-overlapping scale pattern that differentiates its genus from all other snakes. It can be distinguished by the formation of its elliptical-looking dorsal scales, and the absence of everted labial scales.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Miller, Aryeh H.; Davis, Hayden R.; Luong, Anh Mai; Do, Quyen Hanh; Pham, Cuong The; Ziegler, Thomas; Lee, Justin L.; de Queiroz, Kevin; Reynolds, R. Graham & Nguyen, Truong Quang (2020). "Discovery of a new species of enigmatic odd-scaled snake (Serpentes: Xenodermidae: Achalinus) from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam". Copeia. 108 (4): 796–808. doi:10.1643/CH2020060.
- ^ a b c Achalinus zugorum at the Reptarium.cz Reptile Database. Accessed 2 November 2021.
- ^ Pskhun (2020-12-08). "Species New to Science: [Herpetology • 2020] Achalinus zugorum • Discovery of A New Species of Enigmatic Odd-Scaled Snake (Serpentes: Xenodermidae: Achalinus) from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam". Species New to Science. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
- ^ Jessie Yeung. "Iridescent snake with shimmering scales discovered in Vietnam". CNN. Retrieved 2021-01-03.
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