Kingdom Animalia Family Ichthyophiidae Scientific name Ichthyophis monochrous Rank Species | Phylum Chordata Genus Ichthyophis Higher classification Ichthyophis | |
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Similar Ichthyophis, Ichthyophiidae, Caecilian, Amphibians, Siantar caecilian | ||
The Western Borneo caecilian or black caecilian, Ichthyophis monochrous, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to northern Borneo and known from western Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Sarawak (Malaysia), likely occurring also in Brunei. It is a little-known species known from only a few specimens. It presumably inhabits tropical moist forest. Adults are likely subterranean.
Description
Ichthyophis monochrous is a moderately slender caecilian. The holotype measures 232 mm (9.1 in) in length and about 10 mm (0.39 in) in width. The head is 9 mm (0.35 in) long and has visible eyes. Tail is short (3.8 mm) but distinct. The skin has about 247 ring-shaped folds (annuli) and is strongly glandular. In life the specimen is reported to have been violet-brown in colour.)