New snake species discovered in southeastern Turkey

Faculty members at Hakkari University in Turkey announced Tuesday the discovery of a new snake species as part of research conducted in the city's rural region. The university launched 'Morphological Identification of Amphibian and Reptile Species in Hakkari Province and their Contribution to Biodiversity' as part of a project to reveal biodiversity and to identify new species in the region. Academics from the Biodiversity Research and Application Center discovered the species during research in high altitude regions in southeastern Hakkari province. Unlike other snake species, the new one is distinguished via its speed and it has been given the name Platyceps rhodarachis.