From Mizoram, limbless amphibians added to India’s fauna
- Posted By
10Pointer
- Categories
Environment
- Published
21st Jul, 2021
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Context
A ‘multicolor’ limbless amphibian recorded in Mizoram has been added to India’s fauna.
About the newly found limbless amphibian
- A new specimen of ‘Ichthyophis multicolor’ is found in northern Mizoram’s Kolasib district.
- Ichthyophis is recognized as the most widely distributed genus of the caecilian amphibians.
- The genus is said to have 50 species, 13 of which occur in India.
- Ichthyophis multicolor is the ninth species of the region.
- The species derives its scientific name from a yellowish lateral stripe which separates its brownish upper part from a paler lower part.
- The length of the specimens varies from 310-501 mm.
- Significance:The presence of Ichthyophis multicolor points to northeast India being the dispersal route of various species from South Asia to Southeast Asia.
- Dispersal allows animals to avoid competition and inbreeding.
- It helps in colonizing new habitats.
- They are fossorial (burrowing) and secretive.
Ichthyophis
- Ichthyophis is a genus of caeciliansthat is found in Southeast Asia, the southern Philippines, and the western Indo-Australian Archipelago.
- They are limbless amphibians and are sometimes called Asian caecilians.
- They mostly live hidden in the ground and in-stream substrates that makes them the least familiar order of amphibians.
- Their diet consists of small subterranean creatures such as earthworms.
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