New species of reed snake discovered from Garo Hills, Meghalaya highlights hidden biodiversity of Northeast India
Guwahati, India | April 2026
In a significant scientific discovery, a team of researchers from multiple leading institutions has described a new species of fossorial reed snake from the Garo Hills of Meghalaya, Northeast India. The species, named Calamaria garoensis (Garo Hills Reed Snake), has been published in the international peer-reviewed journal Taprobanica .
The research is a collaborative effort involving Help Earth, Cotton University, Assam Don Bosco University, Mizoram University, Zoological Survey of India, and the National Research & Innovation Agency (BRIN), Indonesia.
The study was conducted by Manmath Bharali, Chesime M. Sangma, A.A. Thasun Amarasinghe, Sanath C. Bohra, Pranjal Swargiary, Griksrang C. Marak, Arup K. Hazarika, Madhurima Das, Bipin M. Asem, Jennifer Lyngdoh, Hmar T. Lalremsanga, and Jayaditya Purkayastha.
The discovery was made during field surveys in the West Garo Hills district of Meghalaya. The holotype specimen was collected from Oragitok, Rongram Block, an area characterized by rich forested habitats and high ecological significance. The species is currently known only from this region, indicating a potentially restricted distribution and highlighting its conservation importance.

Reed snakes of the genus Calamaria are small, secretive, and largely burrowing in nature, making them difficult to detect and study. Due to their morphological similarity, many species have historically been misidentified, often grouped under widespread names without detailed validation.

The research team employed an integrative taxonomic approach combining detailed morphological examination with mitochondrial DNA-based phylogenetic analysis. The results confirmed that the Meghalaya population represents a distinct evolutionary lineage. Phylogenetic analysis showed that Calamaria garoensis is closely related to Calamaria mizoramensis, but clearly distinct, with a genetic divergence of approximately 6.3%.

The study also resolves long-standing taxonomic confusion in the region. For decades, reed snakes in Northeast India were broadly identified as Calamaria pavimentata, a species now understood to represent a complex of multiple distinct lineages rather than a single widespread taxon. This finding highlights the need for re-evaluation of historical records and reinforces the uniqueness of the region’s biodiversity.