About Calamaria mizoramensis:
- It is a new species of non-venomous reed snake.
- It was discovered in Mizoram.
- The new species is nocturnal and semi-fossorial, inhabiting humid, forested hill environments.
- The new species is small with a dark brown to blackish body with faint stripes and a yellow underside.
- Its occurrence in other parts of India remains unverified, but it is likely to be present in adjoining states such as Manipur, Nagaland, and Assam.
Key Facts about Reed Snakes:
- They are small, slender, non-venomous
- They belong to the genus Calamaria.
- Family: Colubridae
- They are found in southern and southeastern Asia.
- Mostly found in:
- Moist forests
- Leaf litter
- Under logs, stones, and soil
- They are fossorial/semi-fossorial – spend most of their time underground or hidden in leaf litter.
- Typically brown, reddish, or blackish in color.
- They eat small, soft-bodied.
