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 
| |
| 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 | |
Description
editAdult 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
editIchthyophis 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
edit- ^ 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) - ^ 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.
- ^ 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.