Scientists recently discovered 28 new species of reptile in the Mekong Delta, bringing the total of new species discovered in Southeast Asia to 367. One of the new species is a primitive viper known as the White Head Burmese Viper, Azemiops kharini.



From the World Wildlife Foundation's report:

The venomous species is thought to be a primitive viper species because it has an elliptically shaped, flattened head; enlarged head plates; smooth dorsal scales; folding front fangs; the absence of heat-sensing pits; and a coiled venom gland duct in adults.

The species can be found in dense bamboo and tree-fern groves interspersed with open, sun-lit zones, and usually inhabits deep leaf litter that accumulates near fallen trees. Its diet consists mostly of rodents that are associated with quick-flowing mountain streams. The genus is known to inhabit cooler mountainous areas at altitudes of up to 1000 m, as well as disturbed areas, including agricultural lands and secondary forests.

Read the full report and view images of all the new species here.

Photo: Nguyen Thien Tao/Vietnam National Museum of Nature