SNAKE

This Central Annamites endemic snake was described as a new species only in 2022 based on specimens collected in 2006. It is known from just one high elevation montane evergreen forest locality in Kon Tum province of Viet Nam. Its current population and conservation status is unknown, but given its very narrow distribution range and the prevalence of sunbeam snakes in the international “pet” trade, overharvesting for trade is likely to pose a threat.

Sunbeam snakes, named for their iridescent scales, are widely distributed across Southeast Asia. The intermediate sunbeam snake is only the third species of Xenopeltis, the only genus in the family, joining the widespread common sunbeam snake (X. unicolour), and X. hainanensis, found in southeastern China and northern Viet Nam. All sunbeam snakes are fossorial, spending most of their time below ground. Like all sunbeam snakes, the intermediate sunbeam snake has a highly iridescent scale surface, making it an attractive species for trade.

Sunbeam snakes are collected from the wild for both pet and skin trade, particularly in Viet Nam where they have been heavily exploited for many decades. For instance, 875 common sunbeam snakes were seen for sale in a month in 2000 at local reptile shops in southern Viet Nam. Further back in the 1990s, TRAFFIC surveys showed that common sunbeam snakes were sold in bulk, along with rat snakes and cobras, in Cau Mong market in southern Viet Nam. They are not protected under Viet Nam national law or regulated by the international trade convention, CITES. This is partly because the common sunbeam snake, X. unicolor, is widely distributed across southeast Asia and common locally. However, this status can change quickly as a result of overexploitation, as seen for numerous turtles and other reptile species in the region. The intermediate sunbeam snake, possibly a narrow-range endemic and relatively rare, could easily be decimated by overexploitation, even before anyone realizes this is a newly described species. Two 2020 studies1 highlighted that newly described species are particularly threatened by trade because they do not get timely protection under national laws or international trade regulations, nor are they assessed speedily by the IUCN Red List. New species, like rare and endemic species, are often targeted by collectors and traders because they can be highly marketable and profitable.

Orlov, N., http://www.doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2022-29-4-237-249

Journal of Herpetology 29: 237-249.