New Snake Species Discovered and Named After Guns N' Roses Guitarist Slash

A novel species of snake, now scientifically known as Lielaphis slashi, has been identified and named in tribute to Saul Hudson, widely recognized as Slash, the lead guitarist of the iconic rock band Guns N' Roses. The name, translating to "Slash's groundsnake," reflects the musician's long-standing affection for reptiles and his dedicated support for zoological institutions and museums.

"As a devoted enthusiast of reptiles for many years, I am profoundly honored and humbled that Lielaphis slashi from New Guinea bears my name. This is truly remarkable; I never envisioned such an event occurring," Slash expressed in a statement.

This discovery holds particular significance for Sara Ruane, an Associate Curator of Herpetology at Chicago's Field Museum and the senior author of the research paper detailing the new species, published in the journal Zootaxa. Ruane shared her lifelong connection to the band and her early aspirations: "Guns N' Roses has been among my favorite bands since I was in the first grade, and by fifth grade, I had already informed my teacher that I aspired to be a herpetologist—a scientist specializing in reptiles—upon growing up. Consequently, when I was twelve years old and received my copy of Reptiles Magazine, featuring a photograph of Slash holding his pet reticulated python on the cover, I thought, ‘This individual is incredibly cool.'"

The snake, measuring approximately 28 inches in length and characterized by its reddish-brown coloration, was found within the forests of New Guinea. This island, situated north of Australia, is the world's second-largest landmass after Greenland. It is politically divided between Indonesia and Papua New Guinea, and its extensive tropical forests are a rich, yet largely understudied, repository of biodiversity.

During fieldwork conducted one night in 2006, Chris Austin, a co-author of the study and a herpetologist at Louisiana State University (LSU), encountered an unfamiliar snake. Austin, who also serves as the curator of herpetology at the Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science, explained, "These New Guinea groundsnakes are nocturnal, making nighttime the most effective period for locating them. They are typically observed shortly after sunset at the base of large trees, where they are in search of food. When working in New Guinea at night, extreme caution is necessary due to the presence of several highly venomous species that bear a strong resemblance to the non-venomous groundsnakes."

Following the completion of her doctorate in 2016, Ruane began collaborating with Austin at LSU. The pair joined forces to investigate the inadequately understood snake populations of New Guinea and have maintained their partnership since then.

Initially, the snake's physical appearance alone did not definitively indicate it was a new species. However, laboratory analysis confirmed distinct characteristics in this particular reptile.

Tianqi Huang, a co-author of the study and a post-doctoral researcher at the Field Museum, elaborated, "Employing a variety of advanced genetic analyses, we discovered that L. slashi is genetically distinct from other closely related snakes within the same genus. The combination of morphological differences, such as variations in scale counts compared to other species, and the genetic evidence collectively led us to the conclusion that it represents an entirely new species. Furthermore, we utilized ecological modeling to demonstrate that L. slashi prefers a different habitat compared to similar snakes."

Researchers still have much to learn about Slash's groundsnake, as they are elusive in their natural environment and adept at disappearing quickly. Nevertheless, insights can be gleaned from its anatomy. Ruane noted, "Snakes belonging to this genus commonly possess large teeth at the back of their mouths, which New Guinea groundsnakes may use to capture and consume small, smooth-scaled lizards and the eggs of other reptiles; this snake does not grasp and constrict its prey in the manner of a boa constrictor."

Crucially, this species does not produce venom that poses a serious threat to humans. Reflecting on the snake's celebrated namesake, Ruane recalled the magazine article. "I reread his interview, and he spoke about his profound admiration for museums, zoos, and natural history, and how, as a child, he would venture outdoors to search for snakes—all sentiments that deeply resonated with me and made me feel he would be an excellent individual to name a new species after," she stated.

While Slash's groundsnake poses no danger to people, human activities, such as agriculture and mining, present a significant threat to its habitat and that of other species in New Guinea. However, the identification of new species like this can bolster conservation initiatives. Ruane emphasized, "This underscores the importance of documenting the existing species. Every species deserves recognition to enable a better understanding of how ecosystems function and how each organism fits into the environment. We cannot effectively conserve animals or other living beings that remain unknown to us."