2-foot-long creature — with blue lips and yellow eyes — discovered as new species

In a coastal forest of Vietnam, a 2-foot-long creature perched on a tree branch. Its yellow eyes scanned the area. Its tongue flicked out from between its blue lips.

Passing scientists spotted the brightly colored animal — and discovered a new species.

Researchers visited several coastal forests in southern Vietnam in 2023 to survey wildlife, according to a study published July 1 in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa. The area was a known biodiversity hotspot.

During their visits, researchers found over a dozen snakes with striking yellow eyes. The snakes had been previously identified as a known species but, upon closer inspection, actually had unique features. Researchers quickly realized they’d discovered a new species: Trimeresurus cyanolabris, or the blue-lipped green pit viper.

Blue-lipped green pit vipers are considered “small,” reaching just over 2 feet in length, the study said. They have “long” and “thin” bodies. Their “triangular” heads have “flattened” snouts and “large,” “bright yellow” eyes.

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Photos show the vivid coloring of a blue-lipped green pit viper.

Overall, the snake has a “bright grass-green” body fading to yellow-green on its sides and stomach. Its tail is a “dull brick red.” As its name suggests, the snake has a splash of sky blue along its lips, jawline and throat.

Researchers said they named the new species “cyanolabris” after the Latin words “cyaneus,” meaning “deep blue,” and “labrum,” meaning “lip,” because of these “distinctive blue” patches.

Blue-lipped green pit vipers live in coastal forests and are most active at twilight or after dark, the study said. During the daytime, these snakes typically perch on low tree branches or “in the hollows of trees.” Researchers also found the snakes on rocks near a river, in bushes and on the ground.

The new species “feeds on small frogs and small lizards,” the study said. Like other pit vipers, it is likely venomous, but researchers have not studied its venom.

So far, the blue-lipped green pit vipers have been found in several areas of southern and central Vietnam, and researchers expect them to be more widespread.

The new species was identified by its scale pattern, coloring, eyes and other subtle features, the study said. DNA analysis found the new species had at least 6% genetic divergence from other related pit vipers.

The research team included Sabira Idiiatullina, Tan Van Nguyen, Andrey Bragin, Parinya Pawangkhanant, Dac Xuan Le, Gernot Vogel, Patrick David and Nikolay Poyarkov.

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