A chance discovery near a village in northeastern India led scientists to identify a new snake species previously unknown to science. Researchers Sourabh Verma and Soham Pattekar found a 4-foot-long dead snake with an unusually long snout while exploring near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar in 2021.

DNA analysis revealed the snake was genetically distinct from known species, with its closest relatives found nearly 700 miles away. The team named it _Ahaetulla longirostris_ , or the long-snouted vine snake, distinguished by its triangular head, extremely elongated snout, and variable coloring ranging from bright green to orange-brown.

This discovery highlights how new species can still be found in areas where humans and wildlife coexist. The long-snouted vine snake inhabits both forests and human-dominated areas in northeastern India, demonstrating that biodiversity discoveries don't always require remote expeditions.