Sistan sand boa recorded in India for the first time, in Rajasthan's Sikar district
27 September 2026
Three Sistan sand boas (Eryx sistanensis) were found in Sikar district, Rajasthan, in 2025. This is the first official scientific record of the species in India. It was earlier known only from Iran and Pakistan. The record was published by Vivek Sharma of Jabalpur and Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch, Ranthambhore, in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on 26 May 2026. The snake is non-venomous and thick-bodied, and its tail tapers gradually to a point, unlike the red sand boa.
Species:
Eryx sistanensis
Specimens found:
3
District:
Sikar
Earlier range:
Iran and Pakistan
Why it matters for exams: New species records, range limits and the Thar Desert's biodiversity are common science and environment questions.
UPSCSSC