Slash honored with naming of new snake species

A new species of snake discovered in New Guinea has been named after Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash. The snake, scientifically named Lielaphis slashi, is non-venomous and harmless to humans.

Biologists from the Field Museum, including Tiankyu Huang, Kris Austin, Justin Bernstein, Bulisa Ajova, Jackson Roberts, Jeffrey Frederick, and Sara Ruan, identified and studied the species. Ruan noted the personal significance of the naming, citing her lifelong interest in the band and her career path in herpetology.

Researchers issued a warning regarding the species' habitat, noting that it is threatened by industries such as mining and coffee cultivation. They emphasized that identifying new species is crucial for understanding ecosystem functions and implementing effective conservation efforts.