New snake species named Matilda

The world’s newest snake has fierce-looking yellow and black scales, dull green eyes and two spiky horns. And it’s named after a 7-year-old girl.

Matilda’s horned viper was discovered in the African nation of Tanzania about two years ago and was introduced last month as the world’s newest known snake species.

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Tim Davenport was part of the three-person team that discovered the viper. Thanks to his daughter, the snake will always carry a family name.

“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,” said Davenport, who works for Tanzania’s Wildlife Conservation Society. “We called it Matilda’s viper at that stage . . . and then the name stuck.”

It’s rare to find a new species of snake in Africa, making the discovery important. The Wildlife Conservation Society is not revealing exactly where the snake lives so that hunters can’t find it.

Davenport said he is not sure how many live in the wild because snakes are really hard to count. Twelve live in captivity, and there are plans to breed them. Matilda’s horned viper can grow to be more than two feet, he said.

“This particular animal looks fierce and probably is venomous (though bush viper bites are not fatal),” Davenport said. “However, it is actually a very calm animal.”

Davenport said it’s possible that the viper will find a new home at either the Bronx or Central Park zoos in New York. The zoos are run by the Wildlife Conservation Society.