Ahaetulla Longirostris Snake

• 02 Apr 2025

Why in News? 

 A rare snake, Ahaetulla longirostris (long-snouted vine snake), was discovered  in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh . 

 

Key Points 

• About the snake: 
  • It was discovered during a rhino shifting operation in the Palia division of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve. 
  • Earlier this snake was found only in the forests of Valmiki Tiger Reserve in West Champaran, Bihar. 
• Features: 
  • Its body is long, slender, and green or brown in color, which distinguishes it from other snakes.  
  • Its long nose (rostral) is also a major identification mark. 
  • It mainly lives on trees and can easily hide among the branches and leaves. 
  • It is mildly poisonous, its poison is not very dangerous for humans. 
  • Family: Colubridae 

Dudhwa Tiger Reserve 

• It represents the best natural forests and grasslands in the Terai region of Uttar Pradesh, located on the Indo-Nepal border in the Lakhimpur-Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh. 
• The reserve is known for its rich biodiversity, home to a wide variety of flora and fauna including the Bengal tiger, Indian rhinoceros, swamp deer, leopard and several species of birds. 
• The Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) includes three important protected areas: 
  • Dudhwa National Park 
  • Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary 
  • Katarnia Ghat Wildlife Sanctuary 
• The three protected areas have been combined as Dudhwa Tiger Reserve under Project Tiger, being the last viable home of the Royal Bengal Tiger in the state. 
• Dudhwa National Park and Kishanpur Wildlife Sanctuary were included in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in the year 1987 and Katarnia Wildlife Sanctuary was included in the year 2000.