Western China Mountain Snake Discovered in Giant Panda National Park
- MM24 News Desk
- 5 hours ago
- 2 min read
This undated file photo shows a western China mountain snake, a new snake species discovered by Chinese scientists, in southwest China's Sichuan Province. Image:Xinhua
Chinese scientists have identified a new species of snake in the West China Rain Zone, a region famed for its rich biodiversity and heavy rainfall. The discovery, announced by the Chengdu Management Branch of the Giant Panda National Park, adds a new member to the genus Plagiopholis — the first to be identified in nearly a century.
The research findings were published in the peer-reviewed international journal Zoosystematics and Evolution in September. Between 2020 and 2025, researchers from the Chengdu Institute of Biology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qinghai University, and other scientific institutions conducted extensive field surveys across the Giant Panda National Park’s Chengdu section and the dense forests of Mount Emei in Sichuan Province. During their explorations, they collected several specimens of small, non-venomous snakes measuring about 80 centimeters in length.
Detailed morphological and genetic analyses revealed that these snakes differ significantly from Plagiopholis styani, the only other known species within the genus. The results confirmed that the specimens represent a distinct and previously undocumented species, now officially named the western China mountain snake (Plagiopholis pluvialis).
The new species displays unique physical and behavioral traits. It is primarily diurnal, preferring daylight activity, and feeds mainly on soft-bodied invertebrates such as earthworms and slugs. A striking inverted V-shaped marking adorns its neck, distinguishing it from closely related species.
The West China Rain Zone, which spans much of southwestern China including Sichuan Province, receives an average annual precipitation of around 2,000 millimeters. Its humid, forested mountains support an extraordinary variety of flora and fauna, earning it recognition as one of China’s most ecologically significant regions.
According to the research team, the discovery of Plagiopholis pluvialis underscores the area’s importance as a “biological evolution hotspot.” The scientists believe that the unique climatic and geographical conditions of the West China Rain Zone have fostered the emergence and persistence of rare and endemic species like the new mountain snake.
The find also highlights the growing role of the Giant Panda National Park in advancing biodiversity conservation. Established to protect the habitat of the giant panda, the park is increasingly recognized as a sanctuary for lesser-known species that share the same ecosystems.
Researchers say that continued field investigations and habitat monitoring within the park are crucial to uncovering more hidden species and deepening understanding of China’s complex ecological systems.