Further studies are being conducted to determine whether they possess the ability to detect light.
Kozhikode, Kerala: A new guest from the animal world has been identified in Kerala: Gegeneophis bavali. This species, belonging to the amphibian genus Gegeneophis found in the Western Ghats, was discovered on the banks of a tributary of the Bavali River in Iritty, Kannur.
The identification of this worm-shaped, or snake-shaped, amphibian is the result of research conducted by Dr Ramachandran Kotharambath and Ranjith Vengot of the Central University of Kerala, in collaboration with Dr David Gower of the Natural History Museum, London. The species belongs to the family Grandisoniidae (Indo-Seychellean family), which is found in India and the Seychelles archipelago.
In India, two genera of this family — Gegeneophis and Indotyphlus — had previously been identified. Gegeneophis bavali, found at Valathode in Iritty, marks the 14th species within the Gegeneophis genus.
Superficially resembling an earthworm, these creatures live entirely underground. The pink-coloured amphibians rarely emerge, typically doing so at night for purposes such as breeding. Because their eyes are covered by bone beneath the skull, it is believed they lack normal eyesight. However, further studies are being conducted to determine whether they possess the ability to detect light.
These amphibians are found in moist, fertile soil extending eastwards from the foothills. They possess the capability to live independently in the soil from birth. Of the 14 species in the Gegeneophis genus, five, including bavali, have been discovered in various locations across Kerala over different periods. The study has been published in the international taxonomy journal Zootaxa.
Published: 09 May 2026, 10:51 am IST
Subscribe to our Newsletter
Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.
