Rhinatrematidae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Neotropical tailed caecilians |
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| Epicrionops sp. | |
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Rhinatrematidae
Nussbaum, 1977
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Epicrionops |
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Rhinatrematidae is a family of amazing creatures called neotropical tailed caecilians. You might also hear them called beaked caecilians. They are a type of amphibian, just like frogs and salamanders, but they look more like worms or snakes! These special animals live in the warm, wet countries near the equator in South America.
Scientists believe these caecilians are some of the oldest types of caecilians around. This means they have kept many features that other caecilian groups have lost over time. For example, most caecilians don't have a tail, but these ones do! Also, their mouth is at the front of their head, not tucked underneath like in many other caecilians.
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Where Do They Live?
These caecilians love moist places. You can find them living in wet soil and among fallen leaves on the forest floor. They are very good at burrowing, which means digging tunnels underground. This helps them stay hidden and find food.
Life Cycle of a Tailed Caecilian
Rhinatrematidae caecilians start their lives as eggs. The mothers lay their eggs in small holes they dig in the soil. When the babies hatch, they are called larvae. These larvae are special because they have external gills, which look like feathery parts on the outside of their bodies. These gills help them breathe underwater.
The young larvae live in wet, muddy areas, like small streams or damp spots where water seeps out of the ground. As they grow, they change, a process called metamorphosis. They lose their gills and become adults, ready to live on land in the moist soil and leaf litter.
Types of Neotropical Tailed Caecilians
There are currently nine known species of Rhinatrematidae caecilians. They are divided into two main groups, called genera: Epicrionops and Rhinatrema.
The Epicrionops Genus
This group is often called "Beaked Caecilians." Here are some of the species:
- Epicrionops bicolor - This one is known as the Two-coloured Caecilian. You can find it in Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia.
- Epicrionops columbianus - Called the El Tambo Caecilian, it lives in Colombia.
- Epicrionops lativittatus - This is the Eastern Peru Caecilian, found in Peru.
- Epicrionops marmoratus - Known as the Marbled Caecilian, it lives in Ecuador.
- Epicrionops niger - This is the Black Caecilian, found in Guyana, Venezuela, and possibly Brazil.
- Epicrionops parkeri - Called Parker's Caecilian, it lives in Colombia.
- Epicrionops peruvianus - This is the Marcapata Valley Caecilian, found in Peru.
- Epicrionops petersi - Known as Peters' Caecilian, it lives in Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Brazil and Colombia.
The Rhinatrema Genus
This group has fewer species, but they are just as interesting:
- Rhinatrema bivittatum - This is the Two-lined Caecilian. It lives in Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname.
- Rhinatrema shiv - This one is called Shiv’s Rhinatrema and is found in Guyana.
