Guwahati: A new species of burrowing snake has been discovered in Mizoram near the India–Myanmar border, with scientists later identifying a matching specimen preserved for more than two decades in a California museum collection.
The newly identified species, Trachischium lalremsangai, was discovered in Murlen National Park, a biodiversity-rich forest landscape within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot. The species has been named in honour of noted Mizoram University herpetologist Dr H.T. Lalremsanga.
The study was conducted by Virender K. Bhardwaj, Amit K. Bal and Chhangte L. Tluanga of Mizoram University, along with Zeeshan A. Mirza of the Max Planck Institute for Biology, Germany. The findings were published in the international journal Herpetozoa on May 19.
Researchers collected the holotype specimen from Murlen National Park in June 2025 at an elevation of more than 1,500 metres. During the study, scientists also traced a second specimen in the herpetology collection of the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco.
The preserved specimen had originally been collected in 2003 from Myanmar’s Chin State, around 90 km from the Mizoram discovery site.
The California museum specimen proved crucial in confirming the discovery, as researchers combined data from both specimens for detailed morphological and genetic analyses before formally identifying the snake as a new species.
According to the study, the snake is distinguished by its smooth iridescent scales, brown body with a white-speckled underside, and a unique arrangement of head scales. Genetic analysis further confirmed that it is distinct from other known members of the genus Trachischium.
A member of the research team said the species was named in honour of Dr H.T. Lalremsanga for his remarkable contributions to herpetology in India, particularly in Northeast India.
“Dr H.T. Lalremsanga has dedicated his career to studying and conserving the biodiversity of Northeast India. He has authored numerous papers on various topics and has played a vital role in mentoring students and fostering research collaborations within the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot. The team is proud to name this new snake species after him in tribute to his unwavering dedication and efforts in biodiversity research, particularly in Mizoram,” the researcher said.
“The snakes of this genus are small and secretive, and most look similar. Virender and the team highlighted the uniqueness of this new species — a commendable effort,” said Zeeshan A. Mirza, a member of the research team.
He added, “The new snake discovery reflects the poor state of biodiversity documentation in Northeast India, and it is hoped that more efforts and funding will be directed towards the region’s biodiversity.”
“Research and discovery require incredible dedication, problem-solving and perseverance. The present finding is the result of the immense effort put in by the research team,” said H.T. Lalremsanga.
Researchers said the discovery highlights the immense yet still poorly explored reptile diversity of Northeast India and the Indo–Burma biodiversity hotspot, where several new snake species have been described in recent years.
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