Conservation Needs Assessment Summary

Daniel's Caecilian
(Gegeneophis danieli)

Printable version India, Assessed 03 Sep 2020

Assessment details

It is unknown if a population of at least 50% of the individuals of this species are likely to be included within one or more well-managed or reliably protected areas. This species is known only from the type locality, which is near Amboli, in Sinhurug District in the Western Ghats of southern Maharashtra, India, at approximately 850 m asl. This caecilian is also present in Bondla Wildlife Sanctuary in Goa State, at about 200 m asl, in the Western Ghats of India (Bhatta 2004), and nearby areas bordering the states of Maharashtra, Goa, and Karnataka in India (Dinesh et al. 2013). In particular, it has been recorded from Keri in Goa, and Chorla in Karnataka (Bhatta et al. 2010). This species is known from a number of protected areas including Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Maharashtra in north. Tillari Conservation Reserve, Maharashtra. Castle Rock, Kaali Tiger Reserve, Karnataka. Bhagwan Mahaveer National Park, Goa. Cotigaon Wildlife Sanctuary, South Goa. Netravali Wildlife Sanctuary, South Goa. Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary (Varad Bhagwan Giri, pers. comm. September 2020). The limits of its distribution remain unknown. It ranges between 21 m asl (Bhatta et al. 2010) and 850 m asl (Giri et al. 2003).

Enough well-managed and reliably protected habitat exists, either within or outside of currently protected areas that is suitable for conservation translocation, including population restoration or conservation introduction.

Some in situ conservation actions are currently in place for this species. This species is known from a number of protected areas.

Additional in situ research is required to better understand the species. Further work is required to further establish the characterisation of both this species and Gegeneophis nadkarni (Gower pers. comm.). More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats (India RLA/CNA workshop, 2020).

The threats to the species can, or will likely be removed or reversed, in a timeframe that will prevent further decline of the species in the wild. A burrowing species found in soil, under rocks and logs in semi-evergreen forest and low intensity agriculture (Dave Gower and Varad Bhagwan Giri, pers. comm. September 2020), suggesting that it might be at least somewhat adaptable to habitat modification. The conversion of land to agriculture and the increased use of fertilizers, along with urbanization, and bauxite mining are additional threats to this species (India RLA/CNA workshop, 2020).

The known population of this species in the wild is large enough to recover naturally, without ex situ intervention if threats are mitigated. It is considered to be locally common (India RLA/CNA workshop, 2020)., including common in Keri and Chorla (Bhatta et al. 2010).

This species has not been held in captivity to date.

Sufficient animals are likely to be available or potentially available to initiate an ex situ program, if one was recommended.