To inject the venom into the prey, the creatures have long fangs, which they take out through the corners of their mouths. Thus, they manage, without too much effort, to sting the prey on the side, to its left or to the right, notes Science Alert .

Photo: Rodel et al., “Zoosystematics and Evolution”, 2019

These unusual snakes can jump long distances, which makes them dangerous opponents, even for herpetologists. As experts at the Museum of Natural History in Berlin have discovered, manipulating such a creature requires great care.

When they first encountered this nocturnal species crawling on the dark slopes of a forest in Liberia, the scientists tried to capture the animal in the usual way, grabbing it by the hand. It turned out it wasn't exactly the best idea.

Only three specimens were captured

"In this position, the snake tried to bite repeatedly, which is not the case with other species. He tried to move away slowly from human observers or suddenly curled up and down, often jumping at distances almost equal to the length of his body, "the researchers reported .

Eventually, no one was injured, and the creature was captured. But even if the animal had managed to bite someone, its bite would not have been lethal. But this does not mean that the venom of this snake is not dangerous.

Photo: Rodel et al., “Zoosystematics and Evolution”, 2019

It has cytotoxic potential (destroys cells), causing severe pain, swelling and sometimes significant tissue damage. Because there is no antidote yet, the victim of such a bite may lose his fingers.

Subsequently, the research team managed to capture two more specimens on coffee and banana plantations in southeastern Guinea. The new species was named Atractaspis branchi or "Branch's dagger snake".

The species is still a mystery

Researchers believe that this creature originates from the rainforests of Upper Guinea, a diverse and unique region that stretches from northwestern Liberia to southeastern Guinea.

This region is now endangered by deforestation, agriculture, the timber industry, mining and climate change. The discovery suggests that this area is a center of rich biodiversity, facing many threats.

The effects of a snake's venom. Photo: Mike Clarkson via African Snakebite Institute

Even the forests that still stand were disturbed by the presence of man. Therefore, it is very possible that the habitat of these snakes was also affected.

But for now, it's impossible to know how threatened these creatures really are. Apart from the three specimens, there are no other data on the biology or ecology of this new species.

"New studies are needed to determine the extent of this species' habitat and to gather more information about its ecological needs and biological properties, " the scientists said .