Archive · 3 Dec 2025
ZSI Museum Specimen Reveals New National Record of Yunnan Keelback
Scientists at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) in Kolkata made an exciting discovery.
They found that a snake called the Yunnan Keelback, which was first described a long time ago, actually lives in India.
They looked at old snake samples in their museum and found one from a very old expedition.
They also found seven more samples collected in Arunachal Pradesh in 1982.
This is the first time this snake has been officially recorded in India.
The scientists think this shows how important it is to look at old museum samples with new science.
The ZSI is also doing more surveys in border areas to find and document more species.
Scientists at ZSI identified the Yunnan Keelback (Fowlea yunnanensis) in India for the first time.
The original specimen was collected by Dr John Anderson during the 1868 Yunnan Expedition.
Seven additional specimens were found in the ZSI museum, collected from Namdapha Tiger Reserve in 1982.
This discovery highlights the importance of revisiting historical specimens with modern taxonomic insights.
ZSI is intensifying faunal surveys in border states like Arunachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat.
- Who
- Scientists at the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), Kolkata, including Sumidh Ray, Anirban Das, and Dr Pratyush Mohapatra
- What
- Identified the Yunnan Keelback (Fowlea yunnanensis) within India’s administrative boundaries for the first time
- When
- During a recent examination of historical collections and specimens collected on December 22, 1982
- Where
- Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) museum, Kolkata, and Gibbon’s Land in Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh
- Why
- To confirm the presence of the species within India’s administrative boundaries and highlight the importance of revisiting historical specimens using modern taxonomic insights
- Specimen Identification
- Yunnan Keelback (Fowlea yunnanensis)
- Original Specimen Collector
- Dr John Anderson
- Original Expedition Year
- 1868
- Original Specimen Voucher Numbers
- ZSI-R-4191, 4192, 4196
- New Specimens Voucher Number
- ZSI-R-24039
- Collection Location
- Gibbon’s Land, Namdapha Tiger Reserve, Arunachal Pradesh
- Collection Date
- December 22, 1982
- Current Known Range
- Southwestern China (Yunnan Province), Northeastern India (Arunachal Pradesh), and likely adjoining areas of Myanmar