Kolkata, Sept. 13 -- The Zoological Survey of India (ZSI), along with researchers from several institutions, has discovered a new species of subterranean, legless amphibian in the Northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra.
Named Gegeneophis chandgadi, the newly identified caecilian was found in Buzawade in Chandgad, Kolhapur. Researchers from ZSI, WRC Pune, Yashwantrao Chavan Mahavidyalaya, Savitribai Phule Pune University and the Mhadei Research Centre, Goa, collaborated on the study, an issued statement read. The species was identified through a combination of molecular analysis and detailed morphological and meristic studies. Caecilians are elusive amphibians that spend most of their lives underground and are often mistaken for earthworms or blind snakes.
The species has been named after the Chandgadi dialect of Marathi spoken in and around Chandgad, recognising the linguistic and cultural identity of the region. Researchers also acknowledged the contribution of local residents and their traditional ecological knowledge in locating the specimens.
Significantly, the caecilian was found in residential and agricultural landscapes rather than exclusively within protected forests. The finding highlights the need for greater attention to subterranean biodiversity and soil ecosystems.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.