Distribution and abundance of the caecilian Gegeneophis ramaswamii (Amphibia : Gymnophiona) in southern Kerala

In 1998 and 1999 we conducted investigations of poorly known, soil-dwelling caecilian amphibians of the southern region of the Western Ghats, a recogn ized biodiversity hotspot, Gegeneophis ramaswamii was widely encountered in varied habitats between sealevel and 600 m, south of 08 degrees 58'N and w est of 77 degrees 24'E, It was the most common caecilian species found here , and in two localities densities ranged between 0.44 and 1.13 individuals, and 2.59 and 5.5 g per m(2). This indicates that, contrary to many reports , caecilians are highly abundant in some localities, and that the ecologica l consequences of this demand investigation.