Aizawl, Jan 6: Scientists have discovered a new species of reed snake in Mizoram, correcting a long-standing taxonomic misidentification and adding a previously unknown species to India’s reptile fauna.
The species, named Calamaria mizoramensis after the state where it was found, was identified by a team of researchers from Mizoram in collaboration with scientists from Russia, Germany and Vietnam. The findings were published on Monday in the international scientific journal Zootaxa.
The study is based on detailed morphological examinations and DNA analysis, according to lead author H.T. Lalremsanga, Professor in the Department of Zoology at Mizoram University.
He said specimens of the snake were first collected in 2008 but were previously misidentified as a widely distributed Southeast Asian species.
“Our study establishes that the Mizoram population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage unique to the state,” Lalremsanga said.
The research team analysed specimens collected over more than a decade from forested areas in and around Aizawl, Reiek, Sihphir and Sawlêng, as well as parts of Mamit and Kolasib districts.
Genetic analysis revealed that the snake differs by more than 15 per cent from its closest known relatives, a level of divergence sufficient to classify it as a new species.
So far, Calamaria mizoramensis has been confirmed only from Mizoram, though researchers said its presence in neighbouring regions cannot be ruled out.
“Its occurrence in other parts of India remains unverified, but it may be present in adjoining states such as Manipur, Nagaland and Assam. A possible extension into the Chittagong region of Bangladesh also requires further confirmation,” the study noted.
The genus Calamaria comprises 69 recognised species worldwide. The newly identified snake is non-venomous, nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid forested hill areas at elevations ranging from 670 to 1,295 metres.
It has also been found in areas close to human settlements, including the Mizoram University campus. Based on available data, the researchers have provisionally assessed the species as ‘Least Concern’ under the IUCN Red List criteria.
The study also provides an updated checklist of Mizoram’s herpetofauna, documenting 169 species, and highlights the need for continued biological surveys in Northeast India.
