The Western Ghats introduced new butterflies, frogs, fruit flies, and even a freshwater crab in the first four months of 2021.

Xylophis Deepaki, a tiny snake with iridescent scales that is only 20 cm long, has been added to the list.

It was discovered in a coconut plantation in Kanyakumari for the first time.

It has been sighted in a few locations in the southern part of the Western Ghats and is now considered an endemic species of Nadu.

The species is named after Indian herpetologist Deepak Veerappan, who was instrumental in establishing the Xylophiinae subfamily to accommodate wood snakes.