DNA analysis found the new species had at least 7% genetic divergence from other related snake species. The research team included Rupert Grassby-Lewis, Peter Brakels, Nathanaël Maury, Saly Sitthivong ...

Kwiaht herpetologist Christian Oldham is documenting the seasonal activities of both populations, and both prey and snake DNA samples are being analyzed at Kwiaht’s Lopez Island laboratory.

“But when we examined its DNA and morphology, we realized it was something new.” Now named Leptophis mystacinus, from the Greek mystax, meaning “mustache,” the snake was recognized as a ...