New snake species discovered in Ethiopian forest eats eggs whole
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Researchers in Ethiopia’s Harenna Forest, a large forested area in the Horn of Africa, identified a new snake species that feeds exclusively on bird eggs.
The scientists, from Germany and South Africa, confirmed the discovery after years of observation, DNA analysis, and a breeding experiment. They named the snake Dasypeltis albigularis, meaning “white-throated” in Latin, because of the light coloration on its throat and belly.
The new snake belongs to a group of African egg-eating snakes that are often difficult to distinguish from one another based on appearance. These snakes have modified vertebrae that allow them to crack eggshells before swallowing the eggs. Initially, researchers believed the snake was the montane egg eater, Dasypeltis atra, but DNA testing proved it was a separate species.
The team confirmed their findings by breeding a female Dasypeltis albigularis with a closely related species, producing offspring with a mix of traits. It took seven years to complete the investigation and establish that the Harenna Forest snake represents a previously unknown species. The discovery adds to the roughly 20 known species within this genus of egg-eating snakes.
