Ichthyophis tricolor

Ichthyophis tricolor
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1) [1]
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 tricolorAnnandale, 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. 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.
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. S2CID   29374045.

External links

• Image: Ichthyophis tricolor