Dermophis parviceps facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dermophis parviceps |
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| D. parviceps in Heredia Province, Costa Rica | |
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| Genus: |
Dermophis
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| Species: |
parviceps
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The slender caecilian (scientific name: Dermophis parviceps) is a special kind of animal that looks a bit like a worm or a snake. It's actually an caecilian, which is an amphibian, just like frogs and salamanders! This creature belongs to the family called Dermophiidae. You can find the slender caecilian mainly in countries like Costa Rica and Panama. Some people also call it the La Loma caecilian.
What Does It Look Like?
Slender caecilians found in Costa Rica are usually between 112 and 217 millimeters long. That's about 4 to 8.5 inches, which is roughly the length of a pencil! Their bodies are quite thin. They have rings, called annuli, around their bodies, but these rings don't have dark colors like some other caecilians.
You can actually see their eyes through their skin, even though they are very small. The head of the slender caecilian is often a light pink color. This color stands out against its body, which is usually a purplish-gray.
Where Does It Live and How Is It Doing?
The slender caecilian lives in wet forests, both in mountains and in lower areas. You can find them from about 40 meters (130 feet) to 1200 meters (about 3,900 feet) above sea level.
These animals spend most of their lives underground. They can dig deep, sometimes as far as 60 centimeters (about 2 feet) below the soil surface! You might also find them hiding under fallen logs or in piles of leaves.
Scientists believe that slender caecilians give birth to live young, instead of laying eggs. This means they probably don't need water for their babies to grow, unlike many other amphibians.
Even though forests are sometimes cut down, which can be a problem for many animals, the slender caecilian can be quite common in some places. It lives in many protected areas in Panama and Costa Rica. This helps to keep their homes safe.
See also
In Spanish: Dermophis parviceps para niños
