Govind Tekale
A forest department officer on routine patrol in Kutch has documented the Afro-Asian sand snake (Psammophis schokari) for the first time in the district since 1872. The slender, fast-moving reptile had not appeared in any confirmed Kutch record in over 150 years.
Range Forest Officer Jayesh Dumadiya spotted the snake near Kala Dungar during a patrol on September 6. wildlife biologists confirmed the morphological identification using the species’ characteristic cream-and-brown longitudinal striping. The last formal Kutch documentation traces to Ferdinand Stoliczka’s 1872 fauna survey. The Zoological Survey of India’s historical herpetology checklists confirm the species existed across the broader region. For comparative context on rare reptile sightings, see rare snake discoveries and identification guidelines.
The Afro-Asian sand snake is mildly venomous, with rear-positioned fangs adapted to paralyze small desert lizards and rodents. Under normal circumstances the species is not considered medically dangerous to humans, but anyone bitten should seek medical care. The sighting adds a confirmed contemporary Kutch record of the species. It does not by itself establish population size, habitat condition, absence during the preceding period, or a conservation trend.
Desert Ecology and the Record Gap
The Great Rann of Kutch and adjoining Banni grasslands form a fragile desert-steppe zone. The primary habitat challenge in the area comes from Prosopis juliflora (locally known as Gando Bawal), an invasive shrub that has structurally altered native dune terrain across the Banni.
A 150-year gap in records reflects the absence of organized reptile field surveys in Kutch during that period, not necessarily an actual disappearance of the animal from the landscape.
Is the Afro-Asian sand snake venomous or dangerous to humans?
The species is mildly venomous. Its rear-facing fangs are adapted to immobilize small lizards and rodents. Under normal circumstances it is not considered medically dangerous to humans, but a bite should receive medical attention.
The Gujarat Forest Department is expected to consider targeted reptile surveys in the Kutch region following this documentation.
