This genus is closely allied to the black-throated frog from which it is distinguished by the palatine bones forming an acute ridge. It includes rather stoutly built frogs of small size, but one of the Indian species at least reaches a length of three inches from snout to vent.

   The tips of the digits are more or less dilated. The outer metatarsals are united. The sternum is cartilaginous. The omosternum and the precoracoids are absent. The terminal phalanges are triangular or T-shaped.

  This genus includes stoutly built frogs burrowing in habit and freeing chiefly on ants. The tympanum is concealed or indistinct. There are two toothed dermal ridges, a narrow one across the paraphenodial region and another, broader one in front of the oesophagus. The fingers are free and the toes are webbed at the base. The tips of the digits are not dilated. The outer metatarsals are united. The sternum is large, plate-like and cartilaginous. The diapophysis of the sacral vertebrae are prominently dilated.

   The specimen Ichthyophis subterrestris is more or less uniformly dark brownish and somewhat shrunken. It measures 215 mm in length and 12 mm in diameter in the middle of the body. The tail is pointed and the numerous, fine, close-set circular folds on the body are distinct. It is found in Ootacamund and in other parts of South India etc.