Chengdu: Chinese scientists have identified a new species of snake in the West China Rain Zone, primarily located in Sichuan Province. This discovery was announced by the Chengdu Management Branch of the Giant Panda National Park.

According to Namibia Press Agency, the findings were published in the journal Zoosystematics and Evolution in September. Between 2020 and 2025, researchers from the Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qinghai University, among other institutes, identified several non-venomous snakes approximately 80 centimeters long. These snakes were found in the Giant Panda National Park in Chengdu, Sichuan’s capital, and in the lush forests of Mount Emei.

By comparing these snakes’ specimens and genetic sequences with those of Plagiopholis styani, the only other known species in the Plagiopholis genus, scientists confirmed they had discovered a distinct species. This marks the first new species identification in this genus in nearly a century.

Named the western China mountain snake, or Plagiopholis pluvialis, the species displays typical diurnal behavior, primarily feeding on earthworms and slugs. It can be identified by a unique inverted V-shaped pattern on its neck.

The West China Rain Zone, receiving an average annual rainfall of 2,000 millimeters, is one of China’s most biologically diverse regions. Researchers believe that this discovery underscores the scientific significance of this region as a critical area for biological evolution. It also emphasizes the essential role of the Giant Panda National Park in the conservation of biodiversity.