Ringed Caecilian

About the Ringed Caecilian

Siphonops annulatus, the ringed caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Siphonopidae endemic to South America. It may have the broadest known distribution of any terrestrial caecilian species. Ringed caecilian measures 286–450 mm (11.3–17.7 in) in total length. The body is cylindrical and is slightly wider than it is deep. It is bluish-black to slate in colour. The annular grooves that completely encircle the body (except the 3–4 posteriormost ones) are edged in white or cream.

A team of scientists from Brazil and the United States discovered that these organisms have skin glands with different specialized functions. Glands on the head of the animals excrete lubricating mucus which may aid them in burrowing, while those on the tail region are packed with noxious chemicals, similar to the poison glands found in other amphibians such as toads and newts.

Caecilians are some of the least studied amphibians. Not much is known about their behavior and life history. Siphonops annulatus is highly fossorial, spending most of its life burrowed underground. A study found tunnels made by this species to go no deeper than 20 cm. This species uses a highly... Wikipedia →