A groundbreaking discovery has been made in Myanmar as the rare snake species Lycodon laoensis, commonly known as the Laotian wolf snake, has been documented in the country for the first time, significantly expanding our understanding of the region's biodiversity and reptile fauna.
The findings were officially published on June 10, 2025, in Herpetology Notes, an online-only open-access scientific journal, marking a significant milestone in Myanmar's herpetological research and contributing valuable data to the global scientific community.
Previously, Lycodon laoensis was known only from countries such as Laos, making this discovery particularly significant as it represents the first confirmed presence of this species within Myanmar's borders, highlighting the country's rich but still under-explored natural heritage.
Scientific observations and documentation of the Laotian wolf snake have been recorded across three distinct regions of Myanmar, including the states and regions of Kayin, Shan, and Tanintharyi, demonstrating the species' broader geographical distribution than previously understood.
This rare species discovery sheds important light on Myanmar's growing reptile diversity and underscores the critical importance of continued biological surveys and conservation efforts in Southeast Asia, where many species remain undocumented and potentially threatened by habitat loss and environmental changes.
