29 September,2026 07:28 AM IST | Mumbai | Ranjeet Jadhav
The algae-covered dog-faced water snake spotted at Gorai Creek. Pic/Rahulratan Chauhan
What looked like a floating clump of green moss in Gorai Creek turned out to be a dog-faced water snake covered in living algae. Independent researcher Rahulratan Chauhan spotted the sluggish reptile on February 11, 2025, during a routine cycling trip near Borivli. According to Chauhan, the snake was safely captured, photographed, and subsequently released.
The observation, published in the scientific journal Zoo's Print, marks the first recorded instance of algal fouling in Mumbai, and the first recorded instance in India involving this particular species.
Algal fouling occurs when algae attach to a submerged animal and grow on its body. The phenomenon has previously been documented on animals such as sea turtles and some sea snakes.
Experts have also raised the possibility that heavy algal growth could interfere with the snake's natural skin-shedding process. More research is needed to determine its longer-term effects and whether the growth is naturally removed when the snake sheds its skin.
[popcorn number="Feb 11, 2025" desc="Date of the unusual sighting" class="Default"]
Rahulratan Chauhan, independent researcher
âIts unusually thick green coating may have provided some camouflage in the murky waters of the creek, potentially helping it remain less visible to predators or prey. However, the algae may also have had drawbacks. The additional growth could increase drag while the snake swims, potentially making movement more difficult.'
. The dog-faced water snake is a mildly venomous, rear-fanged species found across South and Southeast Asia
. It inhabits coastal mudflats, tidal rivers, and mangrove habitats
. The species is part of Mumbai's coastal ecosystem, including its mangroves and tidal mudflats
. Finding one with such a thick coat of algae is considered unusual
