Ichthyophis tricolor

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]

Ichthyophis tricolor
Scientific classification
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

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 upper lip.[3]

Habitat and conservation

Ichthyophis tricolor is a subterranean species associated with wet, semi-evergreen tropical forest, 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. 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.
  2. 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. 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.
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