Occurrence of chromosomal polymorphism in a striped ichthyophid caecilian (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) from Western Ghats of India

Mitotic and meiotic chromosomes prepared from specimens of Ichthyophis italics tricolor collected from either side of Palghat Gap from three different locations of Western Ghats revealed a diploid number (2n=42-44) with Fundamental Number (62-64). Highest diplod number (44) and occurrence of chromosomal polymorphism is documented for the first time for gymnophion amphibians. Role of chromosomal rearrangements involved in karyotypic derivation process is discussed.