There is a fresh addition to the jungle, and it might ring a bell with rock enthusiasts. The Field Museum in Chicago has christened a newfound non-venomous groundsnake from New Guinea as Lielaphis slashi, paying tribute to Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash.
The reddish-brown reptile, measuring approximately 71 centimeters, is now formally recognized as Slash’s groundsnake. Slash, known for his affinity for reptiles, has been hailed by the Field Museum as a “lifelong reptile lover and an avid supporter of zoos and museums.”
Having a profound interest in reptiles since childhood, Sara Ruane, the Field Museum’s associate curator of herpetology, and lead author of a paper in Zootaxa detailing the new species, recounted her early fascination with these creatures. Ruane’s inspiration to name a snake after Slash stemmed from a magazine cover featuring the guitarist with his pet reticulated python.
The snake, Lielaphis slashi, was discovered by Chris Austin, a professor and curator of herpetology at Louisiana State University’s Museum of Natural Science, during fieldwork in New Guinea in 2006. The island, known for its rich biodiversity, remains a challenging terrain for scientific exploration, especially when searching for groundsnakes due to the resemblance between venomous and harmless species.
Genetic analysis confirmed that Lielaphis slashi belonged to a distinct species within its genus. Conservationists highlight the threats faced by Slash’s groundsnakes due to human activities like coffee farming and mining, emphasizing the importance of naming the species to raise awareness about the ecosystem.
While Guns N’ Roses was once dubbed as “the most dangerous band in the world” in the 1980s, Slash’s groundsnake poses no threat to humans. Instead, it quietly navigates the forests of New Guinea, securing a lasting legacy in the world of rock and roll through its namesake.