Achalinus zugorum

Achalinus zugorum is a species of snake in the family Xenodermidae. The species, which was described in 2020 from Ha Giang Province, Vietnam, was discovered by Aryeh H. Miller.^[1][2][3] It is dark in color or iridescent, with scales morphing from blues to greens.^[4] It is named for George R. and Patricia B. Zug.^[1][2] Accordingly, the common name Zugs' odd-scaled snake has been coined for this species.^[2]

Achalinus zugorum
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Squamata
Suborder:	Serpentes
Family:	Xenodermidae
Genus:	Achalinus
Species:	A. zugorum
Binomial name
Achalinus zugorum Miller, Davis, Luong, Do, Pham, Ziegler [de], Lee, de Queiroz, Reynolds & Nguyen, 2020[1]

The holotype, an adult male, measures 353 mm (13.9 in) in snout-to-vent length (SVL) and 458 mm (18.0 in) in total length (including tail). A. zugorum is characterized by its odd non-overlapping scale pattern that differentiates its genus from all other snakes. It can be distinguished by the formation of its elliptical-looking dorsal scales, and the absence of everted labial scales.^[1]