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Rare Sistan Sand Boa Discovered in India for First Time in Rajasthan
M
Moneycontrol•29-09-2026, 16:19
Rare Sistan Sand Boa Discovered in India for First Time in Rajasthan
- •Three Sistan sand boas, a species previously known from Iran and Pakistan, were scientifically recorded in India for the first time in Rajasthan's Sikar district.
- •Researchers Vivek Sharma and Dharmendra Khandal identified the non-venomous, thick-bodied snakes during a 2025 survey, with findings published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa.
- •The discovery expands the known range of the species and highlights the need for detailed field surveys in Rajasthan's dry regions.
- •The Sistan sand boa can be distinguished from the similar red sand boa by its tail, which gradually tapers to a pointed tip.
- •The Sikar records suggest the species may inhabit agricultural fields, orchards, and areas near human settlements, not just isolated sand dunes.
Key Questions Answered
Researchers Vivek Sharma and Dharmendra Khandal identified three Sistan sand boas in Rajasthan's Sikar district during a 2025 survey, marking the first time this species has been scientifically recorded in India.
While the Sistan sand boa closely resembles the red sand boa, they can be distinguished by their tail shape. The Sistan sand boa features a tail that gradually tapers to a pointed tip, whereas the red sand boa's tail stays thick for most of its length before narrowing near the end.
The findings detailing the discovery of the Sistan sand boas in Rajasthan were published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on May 26, 2026.
