The Amazing Animals

Amphibians: Caecilian«Back

West African Caecilian
(Geotrypetes angeli)

>Africa — Caecilians (pronounced seh-sill'-yens) are leg-less, tail-less tropical amphibians—not worms and not leg-less lizards. They share a common ancestor with as well as characteristics (e.g., skin glands and bone assemblage) to present-day salamanders and frogs. Caecilians are found only in the tropics and enjoy rather long lifespans. They spend their time almost entirely underground, which explains their partial loss of vision and compact head shape, which evolved for digging. A few species remain aquatic as adults and resemble eels. You might mistake this unusual animal for a worm, until you notice its sharp teeth! Caecilians live in a network of underground tunnels. Their eyes are tiny, but since they live in a world of darkness, they don’t depend on their eyesight to find food. Instead, caecilians rely on sensitive tentacles on their heads to locate worms, insects, snails and other small animals that they like to eat. While their dozens of sharp teeth help them grab their prey, their teeth are not used for chewing. Instead, caecilians swallow their victims whole. The secretive lifestyle of caecilians is one reason that little is known about their habits in the wild. They range in size from 7 inches to 4.5 feet; most are about 1 foot long. They eat small invertebrates such as termites and earthworms. A few species remain aquatic as adults and resemble eels. We still have much to learn about this unusual amphibian!

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