Range extension of Ichthyophis multicolor Wilkinson et al., 2014 to India and first molecular identification of Ichthyophis moustakius Kamei et al., 2009

Abstract

We report a substantial range extension of Ichthyophis multicolor Wilkinson, Presswell, Sherratt, Papadopoulou & Gower, 2014, with new material from Mizoram State, Northeast India. The species was previously known only from its type locality more than 800 km away in Ayeyarwady Region, Myanmar. The species was identified by both its morphology and 16s rRNA gene sequence data. One of the studied individuals represents the largest known specimen for the species (total length = 501 mm; mid-body width = 18.8 mm). Brief comparisons of I. multicolor with the sympatric as well as parapatric congeners in the region, and first barcode data for I. moustakius Kamei, Wilkinson, Gower & Biju, 2009 are also presented.

Keywords

• Caecilian
• Ichthyophiidae
• Mizoram
• new record
• ph