Thu Mar 20 07:52:04 UTC 2025: ## Rare Dog-Faced Water Snake Discovered Far Inland in Northeast India
**GUWAHATI, INDIA – March 20, 2025** – A rare discovery has been made in the northeastern Indian state of Assam: five dog-faced water snakes ( *Cerberus rynchops*) have been recorded in the Garemara floodplains of Nalbari district, approximately 800 kilometers from their known coastal habitat. This is the first time the species has been documented so far inland.
The discovery was made by a team led by Guwahati-based herpetologist Jayaditya Purkayastha, along with a group of local snake rescuers. Their findings have been published in the latest issue of *Reptiles & Amphibians*.
The dog-faced water snake, a mildly venomous semi-aquatic species, typically inhabits coastal ecosystems such as mangroves and mudflats in South and Southeast Asia and parts of Australia. Its presence so far from the coast in Assam is considered highly unusual and intriguing by herpetologists.
The research team’s paper highlights the need for further study into the snake’s dispersal patterns and adaptability. Dr. Purkayastha emphasized the crucial role played by local snake rescuers in this discovery, advocating for greater integration of these citizen scientists into biodiversity research. He proposed a formal network for snake rescuers, providing them with training, standardized data collection protocols, and access to monitoring tools to improve both rescue efficiency and scientific data collection. This initiative, he suggests, would facilitate larger-scale studies on human-snake conflict and conservation strategies. The successful collaboration on this discovery is seen as a model for future citizen science initiatives in biodiversity research.
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