A newly discovered groundsnake from New Guinea has been named after the famous Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash by scientists at the Field Museum in Chicago. The snake, officially named Lielaphis slashi or Slash’s groundsnake, measures approximately 71 centimeters and has a reddish-brown coloration.
Slash, known for his lifelong love for reptiles and support for zoos and museums, expressed his honor and excitement at having a snake named after him. The naming of the snake was a result of Sara Ruane, an associate curator of herpetology at the Field Museum, who had a childhood dream of naming a snake after Slash after seeing him on the cover of a reptile magazine.
The newly identified snake species, Slash’s groundsnake, was first discovered in 2006 in New Guinea by Chris Austin, a professor of herpetology. Genetic testing revealed that Lielaphis slashi belongs to a distinct genus from other snakes in the region. While it poses no threat to humans, the species faces habitat destruction due to activities such as coffee farming and mining.
The naming of the snake after Slash not only pays tribute to the rock star but also highlights the importance of understanding and conserving the ecosystem of New Guinea. This groundsnake, unlike the band Guns N’ Roses, is a harmless forest dweller contributing to the biodiversity of its habitat.