Morphology, biology, and distribution of Ichthyophis kodaguensis (Amphibia:Gymnophiona), a rare caecilian from the Western Ghats, India

Authors

  • Venu Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Govindaiah Venkatachalaiah Bangalore University
  • Gandlahalli N. Balakrishna Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
  • Kulkarni Varadh Centre for Applied Genetics, Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8540-9320
  • Nishtha Department of Biosciences (UIBT), Chandigarh University, Mohali, Punjab, India
  • Prithvi S. Ramakrishna Department of Zoology, Jnana Bharathi Campus, Bangalore University, Bengaluru,
  • Narayanappa G. Raju Department of Biotechnology, Karnataka State Open University, Mukthagangothri, Mysuru, Karnataka, India https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3613-0889
  • Robert K. Browne Sustainability America, La Isla Road, Sarteneja, Corozal District, Belize https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3172-9991

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v31i1.18714

Keywords:

Caecilians, coffee estates, conservation, morphological variation, range extension, sexual-dimorphism

Abstract

Of the amphibian orders, the Gymnophiona (caecilians) have the lowest number of species and are the least known. We report new information on the morphology, biology, range, and distribution of Ichthyophis kodaguensis, a striped ichthyophiid caecilian from the Western Ghats, India that shows the first evidence of possible sexual-dimorphism in this species. Based on the clutch size, limited range, relatively low fecundity, and agricultural practices in their habitats, we consider that I. kodaguensis is highly threatened when compared to other striped ichthyophiids from the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot.  

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Published

2024-01-30

Issue

Vol. 31 No. 1 (2024): Reptiles & Amphibians

Section

Articles

License

Copyright (c) 2024 Venu, Govindaiah Venkatachalaiah, Gandlahalli N. Balakrishna, Kulkarni Varadh, Nishtha, Prithvi S. Ramakrishna, Narayanappa G. Raju, Robert K. Browne

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.

Copyright is held by the authors. Articles in R&A are made available under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International license.

How to Cite

Venu, Govindaiah Venkatachalaiah, Gandlahalli N. Balakrishna, Varadh, K., Nishtha, Prithvi S. Ramakrishna, Narayanappa G. Raju, & Browne, R. K. (2024). Morphology, biology, and distribution of Ichthyophis kodaguensis (Amphibia:Gymnophiona), a rare caecilian from the Western Ghats, India. Reptiles & Amphibians, 31(1), e18714. https://doi.org/10.17161/randa.v31i1.18714