title: Systematics of the caecilian family Chikilidae (Amphibia: Gymnophiona) with the description of three new species of Chikila from northeast India.
abstract: A taxonomic review of the monogeneric northeast Indian caecilian family Chikilidae is presented based on 64 specimens. Chikila fuilleri (Alcock, 1904), known previously only from a single specimen collected more than 100 years ago, is rediagnosed and characterised based on recent collections. We describe three additional species new to science, Chikila alcocki sp. nov., Chikila darlong sp. nov., and Chikila gaiduwani sp. nov. This species-level taxonomy is consistent with mitochondrial DNA sequence data. A key to the species of Chikila is presented.
authors.affiliation: Systematics Lab, Department of Environmental Studies, University of Delhi, Delhi, 110 007, India.
authors.forename: Rachunliu G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Kamei
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Gower
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Biju
mesh_terms: D000663:Amphibians / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development; D063147:Animal Distribution; D000825:Animal Structures / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000254:growth & development; D000818:Animals; D049628:Body Size; D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009929:Organ Size; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D004272:DNA, Mitochondrial