New Snake Species Discovered in New Guinea Named After Guns N’ Roses Guitarist Slash
In a fitting tribute to one of rock music’s most iconic reptile enthusiasts, scientists have named a newly discovered snake species after Guns N’ Roses lead guitarist Slash.
Researchers from the Field Museum have formally introduced Lielaphis slashi, commonly known as Slash’s groundsnake, in a study published in the scientific journal Zootaxa. Discovered on the island of New Guinea, the newly identified serpent is completely nonvenomous and harmless to humans, featuring a dark brown scale pattern paired with a tan underbelly.
1. A Lifelong Passion for Reptiles Comes Full Circle
For the 61-year-old rock legend, the taxonomic honor marks the culmination of a lifelong fascination with reptiles:
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Humbled by the Recognition: In a public statement, Slash shared:
“As a long-time herpephile, I am extremely honored and humbled to have Lielaphis slashi from New Guinea named after me. It is really exciting, I never would have imagined this moment would arrive.”
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Reptilian Roots in Music: Known as an avid supporter of zoos, museums, and natural history conservation, Slash’s love for serpents famously crossed over into his music career when he founded the rock supergroup Slash’s Snakepit in 1994.
2. The Childhood Inspiration Behind the Name
The lead author of the study, Dr. Sara Ruane—Associate Curator of Herpetology at the Field Museum—revealed that the choice of name was inspired by a childhood memory connecting rock music and science:
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A Young Fan’s Dream: A fan of Guns N’ Roses since first grade, Ruane recalled receiving an issue of Reptiles Magazine at age 12 featuring Slash posing with his pet reticulated python on the cover.
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A Shared Passion for Nature: Ruane noted how Slash’s interview detailing his childhood adventures searching for snakes and his love for natural history resonated with her own dream of becoming a herpetologist, making him the natural candidate when it came time to name the new species.
3. A Global Collaborative Effort
The identification and description of Lielaphis slashi involved an international team of researchers, including:
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Tianqi Huang (Rutgers University)
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Chris Austin (Louisiana State University Museum of Natural Science)
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Justin Bernstein (Slippery Rock University & American Museum of Natural History)
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Bulisa Iova (Papua New Guinea National Museum and Art Gallery)
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Jackson Roberts (Virginia Museum of Natural History)
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Jeffrey Frederick (University of Kentucky)
With Lielaphis slashi officially entering the scientific record, the legendary guitarist cements his place not only in rock and roll history, but also in the annals of global biodiversity.