Sweet Snake O’ Mine: New Species Named After Guns N’ Roses Guitarist Slash

Slash. Source: Wikipedia

Here’s one for the rock fans listening to RockIt 102.5 and across NWKS Radio: Guns N’ Roses guitarist Slash now has a snake named after him.

Scientists have identified a new species of groundsnake from New Guinea and named it Lielaphis slashi, or “Slash’s groundsnake,” in honor of the legendary guitarist.

And the name isn’t just because someone wanted to make a “Welcome to the Jungle” joke.

Slash, whose real name is Saul Hudson, is a longtime reptile enthusiast who has owned snakes and supported reptile conservation and education. One of the scientists involved in identifying the new species was also a Guns N’ Roses fan growing up and remembered seeing Slash with his pet python on the cover of Reptiles Magazine.

The reddish-brown snake can grow to around 28 inches long and is nonvenomous.

Slash said he was “extremely honored and humbled” to have the species named after him.

So the next time you hear Guns N’ Roses on RockIt 102.5, remember: Slash isn’t just a rock legend anymore. He’s officially part of the snake world, too.

“Sweet Snake O’ Mine,” anyone?