Ichthyophis glutinosus

Last updated

Ichthyophis glutinosus
CaecilianNHM.png
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Ichthyophiidae
Genus: Ichthyophis
Species:
I. glutinosus
Binomial name
Ichthyophis glutinosus
Ichthyophis glutinosus area.png
Ichthyophis glutinosus range

Ichthyophis glutinosus, the Ceylon caecilian or common yellow-banded caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Sri Lanka. [2] Its natural habitats are moist tropical and subtropical forests and pastures.

Contents

Description

The Ceylon caecilian grows to about 23 to 40 cm (9.1 to 15.7 in) long and resembles a large earthworm. The skin is formed into over 300 transverse folds which give the caecilian the appearance of being segmented. The head has a rounded snout and a pair of extensible tentacles near the mouth, rather closer to the eyes than to the nostrils. The colour of this caecilian is steely blue above and pale yellow underneath, with a yellow band running along either side of the body.[ citation needed ]

Distribution and habitat

The Ceylon caecilian is endemic to southwestern and central Sri Lanka. It has also been reported to occur in northeastern India, but more likely this sighting referred to a different species. It lives in burrows in damp earth or leaf litter in subtropical or tropical moist lowland and montane forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, cleared forested areas, and pasturelands at elevations of up to 1,355 m (4,446 ft) above sea level. [1]

Biology

The Ceylon caecilian feeds on earthworms and other small invertebrates. When it has captured an earthworm, it reverses into its burrow, sometimes twisting its head around or twirling its whole body to subdue its prey.[ citation needed ]

Reproduction takes place in underground chambers or other hidden places, where the female lays strings of about 30 white, jelly-coated eggs. She then coils her body around the eggs and broods them until they hatch into larvae about 7 to 11 cm (2.8 to 4.3 in) long.[ citation needed ] The larvae move out of the burrow and wriggle to pools or water courses that form in the wet season. They have three pairs of external feathery gills, a lateral line system, and a tail fin which enables them to swim. [3] The gills persist, but they have lost their lateral lines by the time they undergo a relatively slow metamorphosis at about nine months old. [3]

Status

The Ceylon caecilian is listed as being of "vulnerable" by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. [1] This is because, although its range is probably less than 20,000 square kilometres (7,700 sq mi), it is locally common in the areas in which it lives and does not seem to have any significant threats. It is a very adaptable animal and can cope with changes in its habitat. Large areas of its range are found in well-protected national parks, including the Sinharaja World Heritage Site, the Knuckles Range Forest Reserve, the Dellawa Forest Reserve and the Udawatta Kele Sanctuary. [4]

Related Research Articles

Boulengerula uluguruensis, the Uluguru pink caecilian or Uluguru African caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Caeciliidae. It is endemic to Tanzania where it is found in the Nguu, Nguru, and Uluguru Mountains. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.

<i>Dermophis mexicanus</i> Species of amphibian

Dermophis mexicanus, also known commonly as the Mexican burrowing caecilian or the Mexican caecilian, and locally as the tapalcua or tepelcua, is a species of limbless amphibian in the family Dermophiidae. The species is native to Mexico and Central America, where it burrows under leaf litter and plant debris.

<i>Ichthyophis larutensis</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis larutensis, the Larut Hills caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae found in Malaysia and Thailand. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

Ichthyophis nigroflavus, the Kuala Lumpur caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Malaysia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

Ichthyophis paucidentulus, the Kapahiang caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

Ichthyophis weberi, the Malatgan River caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

Ichthyophis biangularis, the angular caecilian or Metang caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Borneo (Malaysia): it is only known from its type locality, Mount Matang in Sarawak, where the holotype was collected in 1872 by Alfred Hart Everett. New specimens were collected from the type locality only in 2009. In addition, one larval sample was collected from the same region and identified as likely Ichthyophis biangularis using genetic methods.

<i>Ichthyophis dulitensis</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis dulitensis is a species of caecilian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to Borneo and only known from near its type locality, Mount Dulit in northern Sarawak, Malaysia, after which it is named. Described by Edward Harrison Taylor in 1960, the holotype was collected by Charles Hose already in 1891. It is a poorly known species with uncertain taxonomic status. Common name Mount Dulit caecilian has been coined for it.

Ichthyophis glandulosus, the Basilan Island caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to the Philippines. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, freshwater springs, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forest, irrigated land and seasonally flooded agricultural land. The population is unknown as only two specimens have been collected.

The Javan caecilian is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Indonesia. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Koh Tao Island caecilian</span> Species of amphibian

The Koh Tao Island caecilian is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae found in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Also known as the Ichthyophis bannanicus, the Banna caecilian, it is also found in southern China.

The Upper Laos caecilian is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to Laos and only known from a single specimen (holotype) collected from the imprecise type locality, "Upper Laos". Presumably a tropical moist forest species, nothing definite is known about its habitat or ecology.

<i>Ichthyophis mindanaoensis</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis mindanaoensis, also known as Todaya caecilian or Mindanao Island caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to the island of Mindanao, the Philippines.

<i>Ichthyophis monochrous</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis monochrous, the Western Borneo caecilian or black caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to northern Borneo and known from western Kalimantan (Indonesia) and Sarawak (Malaysia), likely occurring also in Brunei. It is a little-known species known from only a few specimens. It presumably inhabits tropical moist forest. Adults are likely subterranean.

<i>Ichthyophis paucisulcus</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis paucisulcus, the Siantar caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae found in Indonesia and Singapore. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical swamps, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, seasonally flooded agricultural land, and canals and ditches.

Ichthyophis singaporensis, the Singapore caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae endemic to Singapore. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, rivers, intermittent rivers, plantations, rural gardens, heavily degraded former forests, irrigated land, and seasonally flooded agricultural land.

<i>Ichthyophis sumatranus</i> Species of amphibian

Ichthyophis sumatranus, also known as the Sumatra caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Ichthyophiidae. It is endemic to Sumatra, Indonesia. It is known from western Sumatra, but many records lack precise location data and its exact range is poorly known.

Pseudoeurycea goebeli is a species of salamander in the family Plethodontidae. It is found in Guatemala and Mexico. It's natural habitat is subtropical or tropical moist montane forests. These salamanders live at an elevation of 2400–2900 meters in the cloud forest. Researchers have found that their mating and spermiogenesis do not depend on temporal changes like other salamanders in that area. Another unique fact about these specific salamanders is that even though they have mating opportunities throughout the year and they are active all year, they are seasonal egg-layers. It is threatened by habitat loss.

Rhinatrema nigrum, the black caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Rhinatrematidae found in Guyana, Venezuela, and possibly Brazil. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, rivers, and intermittent rivers.

Ichthyophis nguyenorum is a species of caecilian in the family Ichthyophiidae. They were first found in Kon Plông District, Kon Tum Province, central Vietnam, in 2006, and formally described in 2012. The species is now also known from the Cat Tien National Park in Đồng Nai and Lâm Đồng provinces, southern Vietnam, and is presumed to occur more widely in suitable habitat in central and southern Vietnam as well as in eastern Cambodia.

References

  1. 1 2 3 IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Ichthyophis glutinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T59618A156587157. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T59618A156587157.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. ↑ "Common yellow-banded caecilian (Ichthyophis glutinosus)". ARKive. Archived from the original on 2012-11-02. Retrieved 2012-09-04.
  3. 1 2 Dunker, Nicole; Wake, Marvalee H.; Olson, Wendy M. (2000). "Embryonic and Larval Development in the Caecilian Ichthyophis kohtaoensis (Amphibia, Gymnophiona): A Staging Table" (PDF). Journal of Morphology. 243 (1): 3–34. doi:10.1002/(sici)1097-4687(200001)243:1<3::aid-jmor2>3.3.co;2-4. PMID   10629095.
  4. ↑ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2020). "Ichthyophis glutinosus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2020: e.T59618A156587157. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T59618A156587157.en . Retrieved 17 November 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.