A new species of fossorial snake of the genus Trachischium Günther, 1858, from the Indo – Burma biodiversity hotspot

A new species of fossorial natricine snake, Trachischium lalremsangai sp. nov., is described from the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot. The holotype was collected from Murlen National Park, Mizoram, near the India – Myanmar border, while the paratype originated from Haka Township, Chin State, Myanmar. Based on morphological and molecular data, the new species is related to T. reticulata (Blyth); however, it can be diagnosed from members of the genus Trachischium by possessing 13 dorsal scale rows, two postoculars, one anterior temporal scale, and two posterior temporal scales, in addition to distinctive colouration and other scalation details.

The discovery of several new snake species within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot underscores the need for increased research efforts and funding dedicated to this region in the near future.