GUWAHATI: A ground-breaking discovery has been made by researchers who have identified a secretive and venomous snake known as the Brown-spotted Pitviper (Protobothrops mucrosquamatus) for the first time in Assam.
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This species was previously documented in several south-east Asian nations, including Myanmar, Laos, and China.
Until now, confirmed sightings of the Brown-spotted Pitviper in India were restricted to Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, and Nagaland.
The recent finding confirms the presence of this snake in Assam’s Karbi-Anlong district.
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Although historical records from 1929 by SH Prater and 1943 by MA Smith indicated the species' occurrence in Assam, it's important to note that at that time, Assam encompassed the present-day states of Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Mizoram, Meghalaya, and Nagaland.
The snake was discovered in a bamboo forest patch and swiftly disappeared into nearby shrubbery upon encountering the researchers.
This significant finding was made possible by a team of researchers spearheaded by Arijit Dutta, Jayant Kumar Roy, Sourav Gupta, and M Firoz Ahmed.
Their research paper was published in the 31st edition of the esteemed wildlife and environment magazine, Reptiles and Amphibians.
"This record from the present state of Assam is the fourth state in India in which the species has been reported.," the researchers remarked in their report.
The encounter with the well-camouflaged snake occurred on a forest trail in August 2022, as per the official report.
Through the use of photographs and consultation with specialists, the researchers were able to positively identify the snake, solidifying the first officially documented sighting of the Brown-spotted Pitviper in Assam.
