Uraeotyphlidae

Indian caecilians
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Family: Uraeotyphlidae
Nussbaum, 1979
Genus: Uraeotyphlus
Peters, 1879
Species

Uraeotyphlus gansi
Uraeotyphlus interruptus
Uraeotyphlus malabaricus
Uraeotyphlus menoni
Uraeotyphlus narayani
Uraeotyphlus oommeni
Uraeotyphlus oxyurus
Uraeotyphlus gansi

Uraeotyphlidae is the family of Indian caecilians. It is a monotypic family containing a single genus, Uraeotyphlus. There are six species of caecilians in this genus, all of which are found in the Western Ghats in Kerala State, peninsular India.

They are relatively small sized caecilians ranging from 23 centimetres (9.1 in) to 30 centimetres (12 in) in length. Unlike the more 'advanced' caecilians, members of this family have a true tail with vertebrae, and their skull has a relatively complex structure. However, unlike the more 'primitive' caecilians, the mouth is recessed below the snout, there are no tertiary annuli, and the tentacular opening are far forward of the eyes, and below the nostril.[1] Molecular studies support their placement as a sister taxon to Ichthyophiidae.

They are burrowing animals, which lay eggs that hatch into free-living larvae.[1] Their habitat is primarily the soil of the tropical forest floor.

Taxonomy

Family Uraeotyphlidae

References

  1. ^ a b Nussbaum, Ronald A. (1998). Cogger, H.G. & Zweifel, R.G.. ed. Encyclopedia of Reptiles and Amphibians. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 55–56. ISBN 0-12-178560-2.