- A new snake species was discovered by a team of Mizoram University researchers in a dried-up area of Tuinghaleng river bed.
- This snake was named Stoliczkia vanhnuailianai, in honour of Vanhnuailiana, a famous Mizo warrior. This new species is termed the only third species of Stoliczkia belonging from India.
- Vanhnuailiana was a powerful chief of the Lushai Hills (now Mizoram) during the mid-1800s. He led several successful campaigns against the rival chiefs of the region.
- The new species is non-venomous, with a dark brown shade above, and a few dorsal scale rows bright yellow in colour. Its head scales are uniformly dark brown, but has a bright pinkish sutures.
