CNN Central News & Network-ITDC India Epress/ITDC News Jabalpur: India has recorded the Sistan sand boa (Eryx sistanensis) scientifically for the first time after researchers identified three specimens in Rajasthan’s Sikar district. The non-venomous, thick-bodied snake was previously known from Iran and Pakistan.
Researchers Vivek Sharma of Jabalpur and wildlife biologist Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch found the three snakes during a survey in the Ramgarh-Shekhawati region in 2025. The first was found at a gaushala on August 19, the second in a house courtyard on September 12, and the third near an under-construction house on September 21.
The researchers examined the snakes’ body structure, colour and scale patterns before confirming their identity. Their findings were published in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on May 26, 2026, providing the first scientific record of the species in India.
The Sistan sand boa closely resembles India’s red sand boa, making identification difficult. Researchers note that its tail gradually tapers to a pointed tip, while the red sand boa generally has a thicker tail before it narrows. The Sistan species also retains darker body bands.
Wildlife experts said similar snakes may have been observed in Rajasthan for years, with photographs reported from several locations, including Churu, Bikaner, Hanumangarh and Jaisalmer. However, those sightings have not yet been scientifically confirmed. Further surveys are needed to establish the species’ distribution and conservation requirements in India.
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