When scientists from the California Academy of Sciences and the University of Kansas described a brand new species of reed snake from Mindoro, Philippines, they quickly decided to name it after one of the country's environment conservation icons (via the Philippine Daily Inquirer). Hence, the newly discovered snake was christened Calamaria alcalai, in honor of National Scientist, reptile and amphibian researcher, and artificial coral reef pioneer Angel Alcala.
Alcala's reed snake is the eighth species of reed snake discovered in the Philippines. This shiny, scaly slitherer sports a slightly longer tail than other species in its family tree, and also possesses more scales under its tail. Other characteristics that set it apart from previously discovered reed snakes, as listed by the Silliman University, are its "distinctive combination of meristic, mensural, and color pattern characters" and genetic differences. Due to the length of its tail, it's possible that Alcala's reed snake isn't as much of a burrower as its dirt-digging ilk.
Interestingly enough, there's still a lot to discover about this snake's history and diet (though other dwarf burrowing snakes are known to subsist on only worms). Right now, the only thing scientists can say for sure is that this one has only been found in the Philippines so far, meaning that it might actually be endemic (found nowhere else in the world, unless intentionally or accidentally moved there).
