<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa2.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa2.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa2.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > The silver boa was named after its color and its first appearance on a silver palm tree. (R. Graham Reynolds/University of North Carolina at Asheville) (R. Graham Reynolds/University of North Carolina at Asheville)

During an expedition on an uninhabited island in the southern Bahamas last July, scientists came across a new species of boa constrictor that was later named after its glimmering hue.

Now known as the silver boa, or Chilabothrus argentum, the snake was given its name due to its shining metallic skin and the location where the discovery occurred.

“We all came to take a look at it , and it was instantly clear that this was something different,” biologist R. Graham Reynolds told National Geographic. His team watched the shiny snake climb a silver palm tree before seeking out another four snakes just like it.

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With five snakes found, the team decided to call it a night and make an overnight camp on the beach. Their sixth snake, however, would introduce itself to the researchers in the middle of the night.

“Sometime around 3:30 in the morning, I woke up to something crawling across my face,” Reynolds said.

<img class="styles__noscript__2rw2y" src="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0" srcset="https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa.jpg?v=at&w=485&h=273&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 400w, https://dsx.weather.com//util/image/w/silverboa.jpg?v=ap&w=980&h=551&api=7db9fe61-7414-47b5-9871-e17d87b8b6a0 800w" > (R. Graham Reynolds/University of North Carolina at Asheville)

Scientists were able to identify 20 silver boas over the span of two expeditions , according to the Guardian. DNA tests confirmed they had discovered a new species.

“This discovery is significant because of how well-studied many parts of the Bahamas are, especially in terms of herpetology,” said Team Snake Panama director Julie Ray.

The snakes, however, could be on the brink of extinction because the entire population is found on such a small slice of Earth.

“This new species occurs on a group of islands that have never been connected to any of the other islands in the Bahamas,” Reynolds explained. “As far as we know, they only occur on Conception Island Bank and nowhere else.”

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While human visitors to the Conception Island Bank are extremely rare, feral dogs and cats threaten the reptile.

“We found this species on its way to extinction , and now we have the opportunity to intervene on their behalf so that doesn’t happen,” Reynolds, a professor at the University of North Carolina at Asheville, told the Asheville Citizen-Times.

“All efforts should be made to restrict the number of dogs on the island and how freely they are allowed to roam,” said Ray. “More importantly, an attempt should be made to remove the feral cats from this protected natural area because they are not native predators.”

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