Rare eyeless snake rescued in Pune’s Pashan gets documented in international journal

Kolhapur: A rare case of a Common Trinket Snake (Coelognathus helena) born without eyes has been scientifically documented and published in the international journal, Reptiles & Amphibians (USA), by Solapur ophiologist Rahul Shinde and Pune snake rescuer Anil Kanaskar.It is anon-venomous, nocturnal/diurnal and mostly terrestrial snake often found in gardens, old buildings and forests across South Asia. According to the researchers, this is an exceptionally uncommon condition, and its documentation at an international level holds strong scientific value.Kanaskar said, "On Dec 19, 2024, I received a call from the Sutarwadi area in Pashan (Pune) where I encountered an unusual specimen of the Common Trinket Snake. During examination, it became evident that the snake had no eyes. The ocular region was covered entirely with smooth scales, with no visible pupils, and slight deformities were noticed in the jaw structure, indicating a congenital abnormality. After observing the absence of eyes, I contacted ophiologist Shinde for expert guidance. It is gratifying that this discovery has been scientifically studied and documented."Shinde highlighted its scientific importance and identified the deformity as bilateral anophthalmia, a congenital condition in which both eyes fail to develop. Such abnormalities are extremely rare in snakes, and this case is believed to be the first recorded instance of bilateral anophthalmia in the Common Trinket Snake, he said.Experts said the study not only contributed an important record to reptile biology but also underscored the need for systematic documentation of rare anomalies in wildlife. "This is an extremely rare condition, and documenting it at an international level carries significant scientific weight. It occurs when the primary eye structures fail to develop or degenerate during early embryonic stages. Such findings help advance our understanding of embryological development in snakes," Shinde said.He said the discovery had considerable relevance in herpetology and developmental biology, particularly in the study of congenital deformities in reptiles.Scientifically, anophthalmia arises during embryonic growth when optic structures fail to form or regress prematurely, possibly due to genetic or environmental factors, though the exact cause in this case remains unknown. Despite the deformities, the snake appeared healthy. After thorough observation and documentation, it was safely released back into its natural habitat.