Ecological Observations and New Distribution Records of Lytorhynchus paradoxus (Günther, 1875): Expanding Its Range Beyond the Desert Regions of Punjab, Pakistan

Document Type : Research articles

Authors

Mudassar Basri ¹

Muhammad Rehan ²

¹ Independent Researcher of Serpents

² Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

10.22067/ijab.2025.91795.1093

Abstract

The discovery of new localities for poorly understood species is important for advancing knowledge of their distribution and informing conservation efforts. This study presents the first detailed analysis of the Sindh Awl-headed snake, Lytorhynchus paradoxus (Günther, 1875) based on a field survey conducted in July and August 2024 in the Cholistan Desert, Yazman Mandi, Bahawalpur (29.10833°N, 71.74167°E), central-southern Pakistan. Six specimens were documented, providing insights into the species’ distribution range, diel activity pattern and reproductive strategy. Previous records from Pakistan often lacked specific locality data, and this research addresses that gap by providing detailed morphological characteristics, sex identification, and exact geographic coordinates. Additionally, a recent sighting and subsequent killing of a specimen by a resident in Chak 50 WB, Vehari district, Punjab (30.108611°N, 72.159167°E), extends the known range of L. paradoxus by approximately 150 km, contributing a new locality to its distribution. These findings enhance the understanding of the species' ecology in arid environments and emphasize the need for further studies to assess its conservation status and ecological role within its habitat.

Keywords

Lytorhynchus paradoxus

Pakistan

Psammophilous

Cholistan

snake

Subjects

• Behavioral Ecology
• Ecology and Evolution

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