A previously unrecorded species of snake from the Trimeresurus group of snakes has been discovered and documented in Myanmar for the first time, as reported by the Native Species Conservation & Identification in Myanmar.

The newly discovered Trimeresurus species has been named Trimeresurus uetzi sp.nov and was discovered in Pakokku Township and Gangaw Region within Magway Region in central Myanmar. This announcement was made by the Native Species Conservation & Identification (NSCI) on October 20.

The new Trimeresurus species was first discovered by Vietnamese citizen Tan Van Nguyen in 2008. Following 15 years of research, it has now been officially recognized as a newly classified species globally. Only now has this species been officially recorded in Myanmar. According to research conducted by Native Species Conservation & Identification, this Trimeresurus species is among the venomous snake species in Myanmar.

This species is not in danger of extinction. There are still thousands of them. Myanmar is home to several Trimeresurus varieties closely resembling this newly discovered species. This species is one such variation," said NSCI official Ko Win Paing Oo.

The recently discovered Trimeresurus species exhibits distinctive characteristics, with males having a white line both in front of and behind the eye, bronze-colored irises, and females featuring a gold-green iris.  The newly discovered Trimeresurus species shares similarities with the White-lipped Pit Viper (Trimeresurus albolabris), a species commonly found in Myanmar. However it was classified as a new species due to a distinct feature: the length of the snake's reproductive organ is shorter compared to other species.

"The discovery of the new species Trimeresurus uetzi and the reclassification of the similar Trimeresurus albolabris can be seen as a significant step in addressing the species confusion that scientists have grappled with for many years," stated Ko Tun Mya Win, an official from Wildlife of Myanmar (WOM).