Access

doi:10.1038/nindia.2008.253; Published online 31 July 2008

Research highlight

First viviparous Asian amphibian

Subhra Priyadarshini

In the first Asian report of an amphibian species nurturing embryos inside the body and then giving birth to offsprings, researchers have discovered four foetuses inside a female Geogeneophis seshachari, one of the smallest known worm-like amphibians (caecilians)1.

The phenomenon called viviparity was observed in a gravid female containing four foetuses in its oviduct, the passage from the ovaries leading outside the body.