Harmless Mimic
Photograph courtesy Sevastian Lotzkat via ASU
Not only is this newly described snake an example of mimicry—its color pattern imitates the deadly coral snake—it's also a poster reptile for protest.
Its scientific name, Sibon noalamina, is Spanish for "no to the mine." This snake lives in the Serrania de Tabasara mountain range (map) of Panama, an area with heavy mining activity that is destroying natural habitat.
The researchers hoped that the snake's unusual name would draw attention to the deforestation issues in Panama, according to Mongabay.com.
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