Guwahati, March 21 -- The Dog-faced Water Snake (Cerberus rynchops) has been spotted for the first time in Northeast India, nearly 800 km away from its usual coastal habitat.

The sighting took place in Assam's Nalbari District, challenging what scientists thought they knew about where this snake lives. It also shows the important role that local snake rescuers play in ecological research.

The study, published in 'Reptiles & Amphibians' by Pankaj Lochan Deka, Rajesh Dutta Baruah, Atul Kalita, Prasanna Kalita, Madhab Medhi, and Jayaditya Purkayastha, highlights how grassroots conservationists, especially snake rescuers, can contribute valuable information to scientific discoveries and conservation efforts.

Dr. Jayaditya Purkayastha, Gene...