A team of researchers in India has recently made an exciting discovery – a new species of wolf snake on the Great Nicobar Islands. This colubrid snake, named Lycodon irwini, pays tribute to the late Steve Irwin, also known as the Crocodile Hunter.Irwin was a beloved Australian conservationist, zookeeper, and wildlife educator who inspired many with his passion for animals.
Lycodon irwini. Photo by Girish Choure
The team behind this discovery includes R.S. Naveen and S. R. Chandramouli from Pondicherry University, Zeeshan A. Mirza from Max Planck Institute for Biology, and Girish Choure from Pune.
In their paper describing the new species, they wrote: “The specific epithet is a patronym honouring the late Stephen Robert Irwin (22 February 1962-1964 September 2006), the renowned australian zookeeper, conservationist, television personality, and wildlife educator.” The authors were inspired by Irwin’s dedication to wildlife education and conservation.
New Species Name For Malayan Banded Wolf Snake
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The newly discovered snake is a glossy black color and can grow up to one meter in length. It is non-venomous and feeds on reptiles, amphibians, and small mammals. This species is endemic to the Great Nicobar Islands in the Adaman and Nicobar Archipelago.
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Due to its limited known distribution, the researchers recommend that the Irwin wolf snake be listed as an “Endangered” species on the IUCN Red List. The team conducted molecular analysis on three specimens of Lycodon irwini and confirmed it as a new species in the L. subcinctus group.These snakes were found in a moist evergreen forest habitat crossing a road.
The Irwin wolf snake joins at least four other animal species named after Steve Irwin: Elseya irwini, a turtle; Crikey steveirwini, a land snail; Trypanosoma irwini, a blood parasite of koalas; and now, Lycodon irwini.
The complete paper describing this discovery, titled “A ‘Crikey’ new snake: An insular Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 (Squamata, Colubridae) from the Nicobar Archipelago, India,” can be found in the journal evolutionary Systematics.
What a fitting tribute to a legendary conservationist and advocate for wildlife! 🐍🌿