In a major breakthrough for Indian herpetology, researchers from the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) recently documented two rare keelback snake species in Northeast India for the first time. Both species were previously believed to be endemic to Myanmar..
The discovery, published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on March 27, 2026, highlights the ecological continuity between the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot and India
Newly Documented Keelback Species
- Kachin Hills Keelback known as Hebius gilhodesi , Found in the Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Tiger Reserve in Arunachal Pradesh. Its known range has been extended westward by approximately 107 km from Myanmar.
- Rakhine Keelback known as Herpetoreas davidi , Discovered in the Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary in Mizoram. This find extends its known global distribution by roughly 577 km.
Beyond these new range extensions, other significant keelback findings have recently emerged from the region :
- Researchers documented a juvenile albino checkered keelback known as Fowlea piscator at the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. This is the first record of albinism for this species in the state, characterized by pale yellow coloration and red eyes due to a lack of melanin.
- A new species, Rhabdophis bindi, was described from Tripura, Assam and Mizoram. It is named for the unique red spot on its neck, resembling a “bindi”.
- The Crying Keelback known as Hebius lacrima , discovered in Arunachal Pradesh, It is named for the dark spot under its eyes that looks like a black teardrop..
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