New egg-eating snake discovered in Ethiopia

Scientists working in southern Ethiopia have identified a previously unknown reptile living in high-elevation forests. The creature, designated as the white-throated egg-eater or Dasypeltis albigularis, displays a dark body with pale skin between scale segments and an ivory underside.

This nonvenomous serpent feeds exclusively on avian eggs. According to the research group, the reptile utilizes modified spinal bones located near its throat region to break eggshells prior to digestion.

Field biologists led by Arthur Tiutenko from the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg observed the animals during a 2019 survey within the Bale Mountains. A young specimen captured in the Harenna Forest was at first assumed to belong to a known related taxon, but unexpected coloration prompted captive breeding and later molecular testing that verified its unique identity.

Scientific naming dilemma

The team encountered ethical challenges while securing a preserved holotype specimen, which is customarily deposited in museum archives for formal classification. Because living specimens can escape or alter in appearance over time, and relying strictly on photographs remains controversial, the lead investigator opted against euthanizing an individual simply to satisfy descriptive protocols.

The formal documentation moved forward only after researchers located an already deceased snake that had been eliminated by local residents. That individual was subsequently designated as the representative type specimen for the publication.

Investigators believe the white-throated egg-eater is restricted to the southern face of the Somalian Plateau, inhabiting both wooded land and populated clearings. Direct hostility from people remains its largest survival threat, as area inhabitants frequently destroy serpents out of fear despite the absence of venomous varieties in the zone.