Shillong, April 20, 2026: Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma congratulated an international team of researchers for discovering Calamaria garoensis, a new snake species in West Garo Hills, spotlighting Meghalaya's rich ecological heritage on the world stage.
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| A newly discovered Garo Hills reed snake, Calamaria garoensis, photographed on a green leaf in West Garo Hills, Meghalaya. (Image: x.com/SangmaConrad) |
Taking to social media, Sangma hailed the find as a "remarkable discovery" that underscores the state's vast forest cover and untapped biological wealth. The Garo Hills reed snake was formally described in the peer-reviewed journal Taprobanica using an integrative taxonomic approach, blending physical exams with mitochondrial DNA analysis.
DNA studies revealed a 6.3% genetic divergence from its closest relative in neighboring Mizoram, confirming it as a distinct evolutionary lineage previously misidentified.
Sangma praised the multi-institutional effort involving Northeast Indian institutions such as Cotton University (Assam), Don Bosco University, Mizoram University, and the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), alongside international and NGO partners including Indonesia’s National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and 'Help Earth.'
"This remarkable discovery highlights the rich and unique biodiversity of our State and the immense value of our forests," Sangma stated, commending the team for drawing global attention to Meghalaya’s natural heritage.
Found in the forested Oragitok area of Rongram Block, the fossorial snake lives by burrowing underground or in leaf litter and is characterized by smooth scales in 13 rows along with a short, blunt tail featuring a prominent black underside stripe, making it exceptionally elusive.
The discovery bolsters Sangma's "Green Meghalaya" agenda and Payment for Ecosystem Services (PES), signaling the Garo Hills ecosystem's vitality. It calls for heightened protection of Oragitok forests to preserve this endemic species in the "land of the clouds."
