Wildlife Institute of India records two rare keelback snake species in Northeast India

Exam-focused facts from the 30 March 2026 current affairs briefing.

Key facts

Wildlife Institute of India researchers documented Hebius gilhodesi and Herpetoreas davidi in India for the first time.
Herpetoreas davidi was recorded in Ngengpui Wildlife Sanctuary, Mizoram.
Hebius gilhodesi was found in Namdapha National Park and Kamlang Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh.
The study extended the known range of H. gilhodesi by ~107 km and H. davidi by ~577 km.
Findings were published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa based on mitochondrial DNA analysis and morphological examination.