Gegeneophis chandgadi

Gegeneophis chandgadi, a new subterranean caecilian species, has been discovered in Maharashtra’s Northern Western Ghats.

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Gegeneophis chandgadi

A new subterranean amphibian species, Gegeneophis chandgadi, has been discovered in the Northern Western Ghats of Maharashtra, adding to India’s rich diversity of caecilians. The species was recorded from the Chandgad region of Kolhapur district in September 2026.mThe discovery highlights the importance of the Northern Western Ghats as a significant centre of caecilian diversity and endemism.

What are Caecilians?

Caecilians are limbless, burrowing amphibians belonging to the order Gymnophiona under the class Amphibia. Because of their elongated, cylindrical bodies, they can easily be mistaken for earthworms or snakes. Unlike most familiar amphibians, caecilians spend much of their lives underground, making them difficult to detect and study.

India is home to 42 caecilian species among its recorded amphibian diversity.

Discovery of Gegeneophis chandgadi

The new species was discovered at Buzawade village in the Chandgad area of Kolhapur district, Maharashtra. A multi-institutional research team comprising scientists and researchers from the Zoological Survey of India, Western Regional Centre, Pune; Yashwantrao Chavan Mahavidyalaya; Savitribai Phule Pune University; and the Mhadei Research Centre, Goa, contributed to the discovery. The species name chandgadi refers to the Chandgadi dialect of Marathi spoken in the region, linking the scientific name with the cultural identity of its habitat.

Western Ghats: A Centre of Caecilian Diversity

The Western Ghats is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s major biodiversity hotspots. Its combination of high rainfall, varied terrain, forests and moist soils provides suitable conditions for subterranean amphibians. The genus Gegeneophis is particularly important in this region. India has 12 species of the genus, with 11 endemic to the Western Ghats.

The Western Ghats also supports 26 endemic caecilian species, highlighting the region’s importance for amphibian evolution and conservation.

Earlier Discovery: Gegeneophis valmiki

The discovery follows the identification of another caecilian species, Gegeneophis valmiki, from the Valmiki Plateau in Satara district, Maharashtra, earlier in 2026. Such discoveries demonstrate that the subterranean biodiversity of the Northern Western Ghats remains under-explored, with potentially more species awaiting scientific documentation.