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Thursday, 12 January 2012




World’s newest snake named after seven-year-old girl

Meet the Matilda Horned Viper - the world’s newest known snake species.

The yellow and black viper, with spiky horns and dull green eyes, was discovered about two years ago in southwest Tanzania.

Tim Davenport who found the menacing-looking snake has named it after his daughter seven-year-old Matilda. Its official name is now the Matilda’s Horned Viper.

"My daughter, who was 5 at the time, became fascinated by it and used to love spending time watching it and helping us look after it," Davenport told The Associated Press on Wednesday. "We called it Matilda's Viper at that stage ... and then the name stuck."

The Wildlife Conservation Society of Tanzania hasn’t revealed exactly where the viper lives, but its discovery is thought to be very rare and important.

 





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  • musicluva (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 14 January 2012 @ 13:03

    lol

  • superdog7 (Age 12) wrote on Saturday, 14 January 2012 @ 16:43

    cool

  • cariadfab (Age 11) wrote on Tuesday, 17 January 2012 @ 11:09

    Lucky girl! Not the nicest animal to have been named after you though