Ichthyophis tricolor

Ichthyophis tricolor
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Ichthyophiidae
Genus: Ichthyophis
Species:
I. tricolor
Binomial name
Ichthyophis tricolor
Annandale, 1909
Three-colored caecilian range
Synonyms[2]

Ichthyophis glutinosus tricolor Annandale, 1909

Ichthyophis tricolor, the three-colored caecilian or Maddatorai caecilian, is an amphibian endemic to the Western Ghats, India.[1][2][3] Its taxonomic status is unclear, including its relationship with Ichthyophis beddomei and the possibility of cryptic species.[1][2]

Description

Adult measure 226–330 mm (8.9–13.0 in) in total length, including the 3–6 mm (0.12–0.24 in) long tail. Its body is violet-brown, with a yellow lateral stripe from the lips to the tip of the tail, slightly wider and unbroken at the neck. A broad, white ventral stripe is present. Its snout is slightly projecting, the eyes are distinct, and the tentacles are placed closer to the eye at the edge of the upper lip.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Ichthyophis tricolor is a subterranean species associated with wet, semi-evergreen tropical forests, but also agricultural areas and rubber plantations. It occurs from near sea level up to 1,200 m (3,900 ft) asl. It is an oviparous species with terrestrial eggs and aquatic larvae.[1]

Ichthyophis tricolor is not uncommon in parts of its range. It is an adaptable species that occurs in several protected areas.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e Sushil Dutta, Gopalakrishna Bhatta, David Gower, Mark Wilkinson, Oommen V. Oommen (2004). "Ichthyophis tricolor". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T59637A11974386. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59637A11974386.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ a b c Frost, Darrel R. (2017). "Ichthyophis tricolor Annandale, 1909". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 August 2017.
  3. ^ a b Bhatta, Gopalakrishna (1998). "A field guide to the caecilians of the Western Ghats, India". Journal of Biosciences. 23 (1): 73–85. doi:10.1007/BF02728526. S2CID 29374045.