A team of researchers from multiple institutions has described a new species of burrowing reed snake from West Garo Hills district, Meghalaya, named Calamaria garoensis. It is currently known only from this region, indicating a potentially restricted distribution.
About Calamaria garoensis
- It is characterised by smooth dorsal scales arranged in 13 rows, a short non-tapering tail with an obtuse tip, and a distinct broad median black stripe on the underside of the tail.
- Its body exhibits longitudinal striping along with a faint nuchal ring, distinguishing it from all known related species.
About Reed Snakes (Genus Calamaria)
- Reed snakes are small, slender, non-venomous, secretive, and largely burrowing snakes.
- They are typically brown, reddish, or blackish in colour and are fossorial/semi-fossorial in nature- spending most of their time underground or hidden in leaf litter.
- They are found across southern and southeastern Asia, primarily in moist forests, under logs, stones, and soil.
- Their diet consists of small, soft-bodied invertebrates.
Garo Hills
- Garo Hills is located in the western part of Meghalaya.
- It is predominantly inhabited by the Garo tribe– a matrilineal society belonging to the Bodo family of the Tibeto-Burman race.
- The Garos are the second largest tribe after the Khasis in Meghalaya.
- Significantly, the Garo Hills Conservation Area forms the westernmost limit of the Indo-Malayan Biodiversity Hotspot.