Ringed Caecilian
The ringed caecilian (Siphonops annulatus) is a limbless, burrowing amphibian of South America, whose body is ringed with folds like an earthworm. It belongs to Gymnophiona, the third group of living amphibians, alongside frogs and salamanders.
The ringed caecilian (Siphonops annulatus) is a limbless, burrowing amphibian of South America, whose body is ringed with folds like an earthworm. It belongs to Gymnophiona, the third group of living amphibians, alongside frogs and salamanders.
🧬 Field Guide Specimen: Open Ringed Caecilian in the CRV Science Field Guide to log the specimen, see its place among the Tetrapoda lineages in the Cladogram Explorer, and test your recall in the Red List conservation game.
An Amphibian That Looks Like a Worm
Caecilians lack limbs, have tiny eyes covered by skin or bone and a strong, bony skull for digging. A retractable tentacle between the eye and nostril carries chemical sensors for finding earthworms and other prey in the soil.
Skin Feeding
Some caecilians show remarkable parental care in which young scrape and eat a lipid-rich layer of their mother's skin. This maternal "dermatophagy" has been documented in several species and probably in this one.
Poison and Defense
The skin has glands that secrete toxins that deter predators. Because caecilians live underground and are rarely seen, they are among the least known vertebrates.
Ringed Caecilian at a Glance
| Property | Value |
|---|---|
| Scientific name | Siphonops annulatus |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Field Guide group | Tetrapoda: Amphibia (Frogs, Salamanders & Caecilians) |
| Diagnostic feature (Field Guide) | Legless, fossorial amphibian demonstrating unique dermatophagy. |
| IUCN Red List status | Least Concern (LC) |
| Order | Gymnophiona |
| Limbs | None |
See Also
- Common Earthworm — a similar-looking burrower
- Southern Marsupial Mole — another convergent burrower