New snake discovered in Odisha

Amateur herpetologists study Lycodon Odishi after rescue by Snake Helpline

COLLAR UP: The Lycodon Odishi, which is distinguished by a yellow collar, has earlier been mistaken for the endemic Lycodon jara.

A group of amateur herpetologists from Odisha here on Saturday claimed to have discovered a non-venomous snake in the State.

After months of research, these researchers have established clarity around the snake species, which were discovered in Ganjam district. The new snake species was rescued by Snake Helpline and subsequently studied in depth by a group of amateur herpetologists and scholars from Odisha.

“This research paper has been published in a leading international science journal — The Russian Journal of Herpetology. Dedicating this find to Odisha and its popular dance form Odissi, the scientific name of this new snake has been conferred as Lycodon Odishi,” Subhendu Mallik, chief investigator of the group, here on Saturday.

The common name of the snake has been given as Subhendu’s Wolf Snake by the team who studied the snake.

“The new species was earlier overlooked by scientists and herpetologists as a young specimen of twin spotted wolf snake (Lycodon jara). The species is not just endemic to Odisha, but has been sighted elsewhere. It was always mistaken as a juvenile of the Lycodon jara. Strikingly similar to Lycodon jara, the Lycodon Odishi is much smaller and has a yellow collar which the Lycodon jara does not,” Mr. Mallik pointed out.

“The Lycodon Odishi is a nocturnal and non-venomous species of snake and feeds mostly on skinks and geckos..”