Published Paper Details:

Wildlife forensics deals with the identification of the animals and animal products that are confiscated during smuggling, trading, and illegal possession of the animals. Though identification of species can be done physically, it is not be possible at all times. However, identification at molecular level is one of the fail proof method to make sure of the animal in possession. Chrysopelea ornata also known as gliding snake, golden tree snake and ornate flying snake is unique in reptiles, as it is the only snake species from Colubridae family that can modify its body to glide from one tree to another. This makes the snake one of the exotic pet in trade. Over the years, researchers have standardised the identification of any animal species and its by-products with the help of DNA barcoding. Animal by products that are caught during smuggling or possession of those by products that are illegal to possess with oneself are at times hard to identify from the fake ones. Among the genes that are used to identify the animal are COX1 or COI, CYT-B, 12s and 16s. Along with the above-mentioned genes, it has proven that COX2 gene can also be used to identify the species. This research for the first time has isolated COX2 region of Chrysopelea ornate and has submitted it to NCBI. Which will be helpful in identification of Chrysopelea ornata.