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Issue: Vol. 2267 No. 1: 19 Oct. 2009
Type: Articles
Published: 2009-10-19
DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.2267.1.2
Page range: 26–42
Abstract views: 44
PDF downloaded: 1

Three new species of striped Ichthyophis (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Ichthyophiidae) from the northeast Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland

Systematics Lab, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, School of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Department of Zoology, The Natural History Museum, London SW7 5BD, UK
Systematics Lab, Centre for Environmental Management of Degraded Ecosystems, School of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India
Amphibia caecilians conservation ichthyophiids new species northeast India systematics

Abstract

Three new ichthyophiid species, Ichthyophis khumhzi sp. nov., Ichthyophis moustakius sp. nov. and Ichthyophis sendenyu sp. nov., from the northeast Indian states of Manipur and Nagaland, are described on the basis of morphological analysis of new material. The new material (16 specimens) more than doubles the number of northeast Indian caecilian specimens reported in previous literature, and increases the caecilian fauna of the region to seven species. Two of the new species have very distinctive, moustache-like stripes between their tentacles and nares, a feature not reported in other ichthyophiids. Diagnoses, type descriptions, illustrations, data on variation, distribution, and natural history are provided for the new species. Concern for the conservation of northeast Indian caecilians is raised, given the paucity of previous work, evidence of unrecognized diversity, and ongoing habitat destruction.

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