Jaipur: The presence of two rarely documented snake species — Wallophis brachyura and Calliophis melanurus — has been recorded for the first time in the state in Pratapgarh district, according to a study published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.The study, titled ‘Addition of Wallophis brachyura (Günther, 1866) and Calliophis melanurus (Shaw, 1802) to the reptile fauna of Rajasthan, India’, has been authored by Vivek Sharma, B L Meghwal, Love Kumar Jain, and Dharmendra Khandal. The researchers reported live observations of both species from multiple locations in Pratapgarh, a region situated east of the Aravalli range that receives higher rainfall than the state’s arid western parts.Wallophis brachyura, a small colubrid snake regarded as a rarity in Indian herpetology, was recorded on March 30, 2024, from the outskirts of Pratapgarh city. The adult snake was found alive inside a residential structure, where it took shelter in a door frame, and was subsequently rescued and relocated safely. Until the early 2000s, the species was seen only in a few localities in Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh. In recent years, its known range has expanded to include Gujarat, Chhattisgarh, Telangana, and Karnataka. The Pratapgarh record represents the first confirmed presence of the species in Rajasthan.Describing the species, the researchers noted that the snake was small and slender, with a slightly elongated head that was broader than the neck and moderately sized eyes with a rounded pupil. While the snake appeared largely patternless at first glance, closer observation revealed darker shading along the flanks, particularly around the mid-body. The underside was off-white, with faint grey margins along the belly scales.The study also documented Calliophis melanurus, a small elapid commonly known as the Slender Coral Snake, from three separate instances from inside the Pratapgarh district. One of the species was observed near Pratapgarh city in Feb 2021, while two juvenile specimens were recorded in July 2025 from Dalot village — one inside a school classroom and the other inside a shop.Although the species has a wide but patchy distribution across peninsular India, including West Bengal, the Western Ghats, and parts of Gujarat, it has not previously been reported from Rajasthan.According to the paper, the juvenile snakes measured around 14–15cm in length and had small, rounded heads not broader than the neck, with eyes appearing entirely black. The head and neck were glossy black, marked with distinct white spots and a pale oval marking on the nape. The body was smooth and glossy brown, largely without visible patterns, while the underside was white at the front which gradually turned yellow-orange towards the rear. The tail was short and rounded, bearing two prominent black spots on the upper side.Rajasthan is India’s largest state by area, with nearly three-fifth of its central and western regions forming part of the Thar Desert. In contrast, the eastern side of the Aravalli hills supports dry deciduous and scrub forests and shares faunal similarities with central India. Researchers said the findings highlight the need for systematic biodiversity surveys in eastern Rajasthan, where several reptile and amphibian species known from neighbouring states are likely to be present but remain under-documented.
2 rare snake species spotted for 1st time by researchers in state’s Pratapgarh dist | Jaipur News
