Scientists have identified a new species of non-venomous reed snake from Mizoram, ending a decades-long taxonomic ambiguity and adding a previously unknown species to India’s reptile diversity.
The discovery was made by a team of researchers from Mizoram in collaboration with scientists from Russia, Germany and Vietnam. The newly identified species has been named Calamaria Mizoramensis, after the state where it was found, said HT Lalremsanga, Professor in the Department of Zoology at Mizoram University and lead author of the study.
The findings were published on Monday in the international peer-reviewed scientific journal Zootaxa, following detailed morphological examinations and advanced DNA analyses.
According to Lalremsanga, specimens of the snake were first collected in Mizoram as early as 2008 but were initially misidentified as belonging to a widely distributed Southeast Asian species. The latest study has now confirmed that the Mizoram population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage found exclusively in the state.
Over the course of more than a decade, the research team analysed specimens collected from forested regions in and around Aizawl, Reiek, Sihphir and Sawlêng, as well as areas in the Mamit and Kolasib districts. Genetic analysis revealed that the Mizoram reed snake differs by over 15 per cent from its closest known relatives— an extent of divergence considered sufficient to establish it as a separate species.
While the species has so far been confirmed only from Mizoram, researchers noted that its presence in neighbouring regions cannot be ruled out. The study suggests it may also occur in adjoining states such as Manipur, Nagaland and Assam, though this remains unverified. A possible extension into Bangladesh’s Chittagong region also requires further investigation.
The genus Calamaria currently includes 69 recognised species worldwide, most of which are small, elusive and poorly studied. Calamaria Mizoramensis is non-venomous and poses no threat to humans.
The snake has been described as nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid, forested hill environments. It has been recorded at elevations ranging from 670 to 1,295 metres above sea level, including areas close to human habitation such as the Mizoram University campus.
Based on current evidence, the researchers have provisionally assessed the species as ‘Least Concern’ under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria, citing its distribution across multiple locations and the absence of significant human-induced threats.
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