06
Jan
A team of scientists from Mizoram, in collaboration with researchers from Russia, Germany, and Vietnam, has identified a new species of reed snake, Calamaria mizoramensis, correcting a taxonomic misidentification and adding to India’s reptile fauna. The species, named after Mizoram, was revealed through morphological examinations and DNA analysis published in Zootaxa. Previously collected specimens were mistaken for a widely distributed Southeast Asian species. The study demonstrates that the Mizoram population represents a unique evolutionary lineage, with genetic divergence of over 15% from its closest relatives. Confirmed only in Mizoram, its presence in other regions remains uncertain. The non-venomous, nocturnal snake…
