The Salazar Pit Viper, named after the character Salazar Slytherin from the ‘Harry Potter’ series, has been newly discovered along the highways of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma shared this news on the social media platform X on July 8.
CM Sarma announced with enthusiasm, “Guess what, Kaziranga just found a realistic Harry Potter snake! Come across the wonderful Salazar Pit Viper, its green like mystic and has a rhythmic red-orange stripe on its head.” His post included several photos of the snake taken by photographer Bitupan Kolong.
The Salazar Pit Viper stands out with its vibrant green color and distinct red-orange stripe on its head, making it a visually remarkable species. These snakes are part of the pit viper family, known for their venomous bite and heat-sensing organs located between their eyes and nostrils. These organs allow pit vipers to detect warm-blooded prey even in the dark.
This discovery in Kaziranga is notable, as the species was first identified in Arunachal Pradesh in 2019. The researchers who discovered the new species named it Salazar’s Pit Viper, drawing inspiration from the Harry Potter series and the character of Salazar Slytherin, known for his association with snakes.
Kaziranga National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is famous for its rich biodiversity and is home to numerous species of plants and animals, including the endangered one-horned rhinoceros. The discovery of the Salazar Pit Viper adds another fascinating aspect to the park’s ecological richness.
This find highlights the ongoing efforts in wildlife conservation and the importance of protecting diverse habitats to ensure the survival of unique species like the Salazar Pit Viper. As researchers and wildlife enthusiasts continue to explore these regions, more such exciting discoveries are anticipated in the future.