Gegeneophis ramaswamii

Gegeneophis ramaswamii, common names Tenmalai caecilian,^[1][2] Tenmalai blind caecilian,^[3] Ramaswami's caecilian,^[1][2] and forest caecilian^[4][5] is a species of caecilian. It is endemic to the southern portion of the Western Ghats, India, and is recorded from Kerala and Tamil Nadu.^[1][2] The specific name ramaswamii honours L. S. Ramaswami, an Indian herpetologist.^[6]

Gegeneophis ramaswamii
Conservation status
Least Concern  (IUCN 3.1)[1]
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Gymnophiona
Clade:	Apoda
Family:	Grandisoniidae
Genus:	Gegeneophis
Species:	G. ramaswamii
Binomial name
Gegeneophis ramaswamii Taylor, 1964

Description

Gegeneophis ramaswamii is a relatively large caecilian with a total body length of 182–340 mm (7.2–13.4 in). The colouration is greyish dorsally and light grey ventrally. The eyes are not visible. Its tentacles are placed just behind and below the level of the nostrils. The terminus of the body is wider than rest of the body.^[7][4]

Habitat and conservation

Gegeneophis ramaswamii occurs in wet evergreen forests, plantations, low-intensity agricultural land, at forest fringes, and along streams and rivers at elevations below 900 m (3,000 ft). It is largely subterranean and lives in soil. The eggs are laid terrestrially. The development is direct, without a free-living larval stage.^[1]

This species can be very abundant locally,^[1] and is considered the most abundant species of caecilian within its range.^[8] It adapts to agricultural areas is not believed to be facing any significant threats. It is known to occur in some protected areas.^[1]