Discovered a new non-foot amphibian species in Myanmar

Scientists have announced the discovery of the new footless amphibian Ichthyophis multicolor in the Ayeyarwady plains, southern Myanmar.

The new footless amphibian species is Caecilian's most mysterious amphibian family in the world. Caecilian family species are superficially like earthworms or snakes and live in the tropics, digging underground burrows or under forest cover.

Ichthyophis multicolor - Ichthyophis multicolor - early amphibian view (Photo: Zootaxa)

Scientists at the London Museum of Natural History, UK and the California Institute of Science in the US have analyzed DNA and identified it as a new legless amphibian from 14 specimens collected in 2000 in the plains. Ayeyarwady.

Due to the mysterious habitat under the forest soil, Ichthyophis multicolor - like many other species in the Caecilian family - is now classified as 'lacking research data' in the Red List of the Nature Conservation Red List. international.

Ichthyophis multicolor - Specimen: Photo: Zootaxa)

Currently there are about 200 species in the Caecilian family described in the world, of which the largest species is 81cm long, the snake penis Atretochoana eiselti was rediscovered in Brazil in 2011.

Dr. Mark Wilkinson and Dr. David Gower working at the London Museum of Natural History have described about 25 new Caecilian species in the last 15 years, and predict an additional 100 new species are waiting for scientists to discover. Future.