Schokari Sand Racer:
A routine forest patrol in Gujarat’s Kutch recently led to an unusual wildlife discovery: an elusive snake named Schokari Sand Racer that had not been conclusively recorded in the region for more than 150 years.
- The Schokari Sand Racer, also known as the Afro-Asian sand snake, is an extremely fast diurnal snake well adapted to arid and desert environments.
- Scientific Name: Psammophis schokari
- It inhabits desert regions with sparse vegetation, especially sand deserts, wadis, and oasis margins.
- Its distribution stretches from North Africa (Libya, Egypt) across the Arabian Peninsula and the Near East to Pakistan, including southern Turkmenistan and northwestern India.
- From India, it has been reported only from the deserts of Rajasthan and Kutch of Gujarat.
- Conservation Status:
- IUCN Red List: Least Concern
