In Mizoram, a new snake species gets named after local warrior Vanhnuailiana.
Environment
A Team of Researchers from Mizoram University discovered a new snake species ‘Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai’ near the villages of Aizawl, Capital of Mizoram, it has been named after Mizo’s Local Warrior Vanhnuailiana. The findings have been published in Zootaxa, a Scientific Journal. The snake belongs to the ‘Stoliczkia’ genus and is only the third Species of Stoliczkia from India. It is one of the most important discoveries of the century, because the last time its sister species Stoliczkia khasiensis was found was in 1904. The snake is 50 cm in length, non-venomous, and has a dark brown shade with a few dorsal scale rows bright yellow in color. The head scales are uniformly dark brown and have bright pinkish sutures. Vanhnuailiana was one of the most powerful chiefs of the Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) during the mid-1800s and led many successful campaigns against rival chiefs in the area.
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