| Geotrypetes | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Geotrypetes seraphini | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Gymnophiona |
| Clade: | Apoda |
| Family: | Dermophiidae |
| Genus: | Geotrypetes Peters, 1880 |
| Species | |
3 species (see text) | |
Geotrypetes is a genus of caecilians in the family Dermophiidae, [1] [2] although some classifications place it in the family Caeciliidae. [3] They occur in tropical West Africa and are sometimes known as the West African caecilians. [1]
There are three species: [1] [2] [3]
| Binomial name and author | Common name |
|---|---|
| Geotrypetes angeli Parker, 1936 | Angel's caecilian |
| Geotrypetes pseudoangeli Taylor, 1968 | false Angel's caecilian |
| Geotrypetes seraphini (Duméril, 1859) | Gaboon caecilian |
Caecilians are a group of limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians. They mostly live hidden in the ground and in stream substrates, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. All modern caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as a clade, Apoda, within the larger group Gymnophiona, which also includes more primitive extinct caecilian-like amphibians. Caecilians are mostly distributed in the tropics of South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia. Their diet consists of small subterranean creatures such as earthworms.
The Scolecomorphidae are the family of caecilians, also known as tropical caecilians, buried-eyed caecilians, or African caecilians. They are found in Cameroon in West Africa, and Malawi and Tanzania in East Africa. Caecilians are legless amphibians which superficially resemble worms or snakes.
Boulengerula is a genus of amphibians in the family Herpelidae. They are found in East Africa. They are sometimes known as Boulenger's caecilians or Usambara bluish-gray caecilians.
Dermophis is a genus of worm-like amphibians in the family Dermophiidae, the Neotropical and Tropical African caecilians. They are found in the Middle America between southern Mexico and northwestern Colombia. Common names Mexican caecilians or Neotropical caecilians are sometimes used for them.
Dermophis glandulosus is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae. It is found in northwestern Colombia, Costa Rica, and Panama. It is the southernmost species among Dermophis.
Dermophis occidentalis is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae. It is endemic to south-western Costa Rica and occurs in the Pacific lowlands and premontane slopes, extending to the western part of the central valley. Its taxonomic status is unclear.
Geotrypetes angeli is a species of amphibian in the family Dermophiidae. It is only known from Labé—the type locality which could refer to several places in Guinea—and from Beyla, Guinea and Tingi Hills, Sierra Leone. Common name Angel's caecelian has been coined for this species.
Geotrypetes pseudoangeli is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae. It is only known from Sanokwelle near Ganta in northern Liberia and from Beyla in southeastern Guinea. Common name false Angel's caecilian has been suggested for this species.
Geotrypetes seraphini, the Gaboon caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Dermophiidae. It is found in Cameroon, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, and possibly Angola, and the Republic of the Congo. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, plantations, rural gardens, urban areas, heavily degraded former forests, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.
Herpele is a genus of caecilians in the family Herpelidae. They are endemic to Central and Western Africa.
Schistometopum gregorii, also known as Witu caecilian, mud-dwelling caecilian, and flood-plain-dwelling caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Dermophiidae from East Africa.
Schistometopum thomense is a species of amphibian in the family Dermophiidae, endemic to São Tomé and Ilhéu das Rolas. It is found in most soils on São Tomé, from tropical moist lowland forests to coastal coconut plantations. It is absent only from the driest northern areas of the island. It is typically around 30 cm (12 in) in length, and is often bright yellow. The size of S. thomense can vary throughout São Tomé, however, and it is the only known caecilian to follow Bergmann's rule, which states that a decreasing temperature due to factors such as increasing altitude will cause an increase in the body size of endothermic vertebrate species. The island of São Tomé is a massive shield volcano, and it therefore has differing altitudes throughout the island, potentially resulting in the size diversity of S. thomense. This species may be referred to as the São Tomé caecilian, as the Agua Ize caecilian, or as the island caecilian, or by the local name of cobra bobo.
Gegeneophis is a genus of amphibians in the family Indotyphlidae. They are found in southern and northeastern India.
Chikilidae is a family of Indian caecilians, the 10th and most recent (2012) family of caecilians to be identified, although the type species, Chikila fulleri was first described in 1904. The discovery that this was a separate lineage resulted from genetic analyses of specimens collected during about 250 soil-digging expeditions over five years that covered every Northeast Indian state. A team of biologists led by University of Delhi herpetologist Sathyabhama Das Biju described the family as representing as many as seven species apparently endemic to the region. In September 2012, some of these species were also found in Lawachara National Park in the Sylhet region of northeastern Bangladesh. The family's lineage is believed to have originated in Africa, where their closest living relatives are found.
The Dermophiidae are a family of common caecilians. They are found in Central and South America, and Africa. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes.
The Siphonopidae are the family of common caecilians. They are found in Central and South America. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes.
Herpelidae are a family of caecilians, sometimes known as the African caecilians. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes. They are the sister group to the newly discovered Chikilidae.
Hypogeophis is a genus of caecilians in the family Indotyphlidae. The genus consists of four species, all endemic to parts of the Seychelles Archipelago.