New Legless Amphibian Discovered in Maharashtra

Key facts

• Scientists have discovered a new species of legless, worm-like amphibian named Gegeneophis chandgadi from a rural village in Maharashtra.
• The discovery was made during field surveys in August 2025 in Buzawade village, in the Chandgad region of the northern Western Ghats.
• The research team included scientists from the Zoological Survey of India, Yashwantrao Chavan Mahavidyalaya Halkarni, Savitribai Phule Pune University, and Mhadei Research Centre.
• The new species was found beneath wood piles and damp leaf litter close to human homes, and residents reported the creatures are commonly unearthed by domestic chickens.
• The discovery was confirmed using DNA barcoding and detailed physical inspections, with genetic comparison to known species like Gegeneophis mhadeiensis proving it a unique lineage.
• Gegeneophis chandgadi is distinguished by its slender, flesh-colored body and a pattern of rings (annuli), with secondary rings concentrated only on the back half of its body.
• The species is named after the 'Chandgadi language,' a distinct dialect of Marathi spoken in the region where it was found.
• Researchers noted the northern Western Ghats is a hotspot for caecilians, with at least four other unknown lineages possibly awaiting formal naming.
• The team recommends listing the new species as Data Deficient until further surveys determine its population and range.