A protected snake species, which was thought to be extinct in Romania, was recently discovered, the Romanian Ornithological Society announced. The discovery was first made by an inhabitant in Lunca Dunarii plain, who contacted the society, which then organized a team to investigate the discovery.

They found 10 sand boa snakes - Eryx jaculus – which is the rarest snake in Romania, believed to have been extinct for 80 years. The snake, which is also called two- headed as its tail resembles its head to protect it from predators, is a constrictor snake, who eats mainly rodents. The last time such a snake was found in Romania was in 1937, in the village of Cochirleni.

The exact location of the recent discovery was however not made public, as the Ornithological Society is trying to protect the rare family. Members of the expedition to see the snake said the location is however about 200 kilometers from Bucharest.

The family of snakes also includes a female and six baby snakes.  The team from the Ornithological Society only photographed them and left them in their natural habitat.

Pictures with the rare snakes can be found here.

editor@romania-insider.com