Maya Pit Viper

In News 

Recently, a Venomous green snake named Maya Pit viper has been discovered in Meghalaya.

• The study was published in the recent edition of PLOS One.
  • It is a peer-reviewed open access scientific journal published by the Public Library of Science since 2006.

Image Courtesy:TH

About 

• The snake has been named Maya’s Pit Viper after the deceased mother of an Army officer, one of seven authors of a study on it. 
• The name of the pit viper, recognised as  Trimeresurus mayaae, is also believed to allude to  maya, meaning the supernatural powers, or the illusion related to local legends.
• The new species was relatively common in Meghalaya, Mizoram and even in Guwahati.

Significance 

• In a country where around 1.2 million people have lost their lives owing to snakebite and many more have lost their limbs in the last two decades
  • Therefore , the discovery of a new venomous snake means a lot in the context of public health as it will help understand its venom and its impact on human life and perhaps will help save lives.

Source:TH