In a groundbreaking discovery, Chinese scientists have identified a new species of snake in the West China Rain Zone, a region renowned for its rich biodiversity. The species, named the western China mountain snake (Plagiopholis pluvialis), was found in the Giant Panda National Park’s Chengdu segment and the lush forests of Mount Emei in Sichuan province. This marks the first new species within the Plagiopholis genus to be discovered in nearly a century. The findings were published in the esteemed international journal Zoosystematics and Evolution in September 2025. The research, conducted by teams from the Chengdu Institute of Biology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Qinghai University, among others, spanned from 2020 to 2025. The non-venomous snakes, measuring approximately 80 centimeters in length, exhibit diurnal behavior and primarily feed on earthworms and slugs. A distinctive inverted V-shaped pattern on their necks sets them apart from other species. The West China Rain Zone, with an average annual precipitation of 2,000 millimeters, is a critical area for biological evolution. This discovery underscores the scientific importance of the region and highlights the Giant Panda National Park’s pivotal role in biodiversity conservation.