Question

Which of the following belongs to Gymnophiona?
A)Triturus
B)Ichthyophis
C)Hyla
D)Ambystoma

Answer 1

Gymnophiona constitutes a group of amphibians. Legless caecilians and several other amphibians that are more closely related to them forms a part of this particular group.

Complete answer:
Gymnophonia has derived its name from the Greek origin. Gymnos means “naked” while ophis means “snake”. It includes caecilians which were initially believed to be linked to the snakes. They are bluish black to dark brown in color. They have greasy skin which often bears ring like markings or grooves over them. These markings represent minute dermal scales. Caecilians belong to genus Ichthyophis which falls under phylum chordata.
Ichthyophis is a genus belonging to class Amphibia and order Gymnophiona. It consists of caecilians which are amphibians without limbs. These are occasionally also known as Asian caecilians because they most prominently exist in Southeast Asia, western Indo-Australian Archipelago and the southern Philippines.

Three species of Ichthyophis are found in Sri Lanka. Although all these species are known to inhabit all the places but still the moist environment is preferred by them. Ichthyophis glutinosus is the most commonly occurring species found in probably all the altitudes.

However other species namely, I. ortho plicatus is also present in alike environment but they does not inhabit lowland areas that are below 1,510 ft. (460 meters) above sea level while the third species namely, I. pseudangularis is found in the lowlands that are below 3,900 ft. (1,200 meters) above the sea level. Moreover, one more species of Ichthyophis that is Ichthyophis multicolor has been recently discovered.
On the other hand, Triturus and Ambystoma are salamanders belonging to the order Urodela while Hyla are frogs belonging to the order Anura.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: Caecilians constitute a group of vermiform, limbless, or serpentine amphibians. They are often found hidden in the stream substrates or inside the ground therefore this order of amphibians is not much familiar. Gymnophiona is the order constituting all the modern caecilians along with their fossil relatives.