Tracheischium lalremruatsangi: Newly Described
Worm-Eating Snake Species
¨
Trachischium larremsangai
is a newly identified worm-eating snake species described on 19 May 2026 in the
journal Herpetozoa.
¨
The species was named in
honor of Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga.
¨
Specimens of the species
were linked to samples collected from Mizoram (India) and Myanmar.
¨
Trachischium belongs to
the Colubridae family and includes slender worm-eating snakes found in
Northeast India and the Himalayas.
¨
Trachischium larremsangai
is the 11th recognized species of the Trachischium genus.
¨
The first specimen was
discovered near the India–Myanmar border in Murlen National Park.
¨
The second specimen was
collected in 2007 from Chin State, Myanmar.
¨
In September 2025, the
second specimen was identified in the collection of California Academy of
Sciences.
¨
The snake has a brown
body, pale brown belly, and white spots on the lower side.
¨ Its key features include two scales behind the eye and smooth, shiny scales.
¨ Hmar Tlawmte Lalremsanga has made significant contributions to herpetology, student mentorship, and biodiversity research in the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot.
