Researchers have found a new kind of venomous snake living in caves in Vang Vieng, Vientiane Province. The snake has a bright yellow-orange snout.
The study, published in the journal Herpetozoa, describes the species from one adult female collected near Khan Kham Cave in October 2024. The researchers also photographed three other snakes of the same kind in nearby caves. All four were on cave surfaces, such as walls, stalactites and bare rock.
Khan Kham Cave is a long, wide natural cave that visitors can explore, with cool, fresh air inside. It lies in Phonngeun village, not far from the Pha Ngeun viewpoint.
The snake belongs to a group called Asian lance-headed pit vipers, which are highly venomous.
Their bites can cause severe pain, bleeding and lasting tissue damage, and victim need urgent medical care. With this discovery, Laos now has three snake species from this group. Worldwide, the group has 16.
Identifying the snake
The scientists carefully caught the snake using special hooks, photographed it while it was alive, and placed it in the National University of Laos collection in Vientiane for further study.
They then examined its DNA, which showed that it was clearly different from known species. Its closest known relative, P. kelomohy, was first described by scientists in 2020 and found in northwestern Thailand.
The snake also has distinct physical features. The female specimen measured about 83 centimeters long, with a dark brown head, large reddish-brown markings shaped like crosses, and bright yellow coloring on its snout and tail tip. Its closest Thai relative does not have these yellow markings.
Researchers compared the snake with all 15 other known species in the same group and found clear differences in both its DNA and appearance.
Local communities already knew about the snake, according to the report.
Hmong villagers said they had seen it around the beginning and end of the rainy season, a pattern that matched the scientists’ observations. The findings suggest the species had gone unnoticed by researchers despite living in an area that was relatively easy to reach.
