Rhinatrematidae is the family of neotropical tailed caecilian

Caecilian

The caecilians are an order of amphibians that superficially resemble earthworms or snakes. They mostly live hidden in the ground, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. All extant caecilians and their closest fossil relatives are grouped as the clade Apoda. They are mostly...

s or beaked caecilians. Members of the family are found in the equatorial countries of South America

South America

South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...

.

They are usually regarded as the most primitive of the caecilian families, with numerous characteristics lacking in the other groups. For example, they still possess a tail, and the mouth is not recessed on the underside of the head. They lay their eggs in cavities in the soil. The larvae have external gills, and live in seepages until they metamorphose. The adults live in moist soil and leaf litter.

Taxonomy

There are nine species in two genera.

Family Rhinatrematidae

• Genus Epicrionops - Beaked Caecilians
  • Epicrionops bicolor
    Epicrionops bicolor
    Epicrionops bicolor is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is found in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-References:...
    
    - Two-coloured Caecilian (Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela, and Colombia).
  • Epicrionops columbianus
    Epicrionops columbianus
    Epicrionops columbianus is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-Source:...
    
    - El Tambo Caecilian (Colombia).
  • Epicrionops lativittatus
    Epicrionops lativittatus
    Epicrionops lativittatus is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montanes, and rivers.-Source:...
    
    - Eastern Peru Caecilian (Peru).
  • Epicrionops marmoratus
    Epicrionops marmoratus
    Epicrionops marmoratus is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-Source:...
    
    - Marbled Caecilian (Ecuador).
  • Epicrionops niger - Black Caecilian (Guyana, Venezuela, and possibly Brazil
    Brazil
    Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
    
    ).
  • Epicrionops parkeri
    Epicrionops parkeri
    Epicrionops parkeri is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Colombia.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-Source:...
    
    - Parker's Caecilian (Colombia).
  • Epicrionops peruvianus
    Epicrionops peruvianus
    Epicrionops peruvianus is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is endemic to Peru.Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist montanes, rivers, and intermittent rivers.-Source:...
    
    - Marcapata Valley Caecilian (Peru).
  • Epicrionops petersi
    Epicrionops petersi
    Epicrionops petersi is a species of caecilian in the Rhinatrematidae family.It is found in Ecuador, Peru, possibly Brazil, and possibly Colombia....
    
    - Peters' Caecilian (Ecuador, Peru, and possibly Brazil and Colombia).
• Genus Rhinatrema
  • Rhinatrema bivittatum - Two-lined Caecilian (Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname).
  • Rhinatrema shiv - Shiv’s Rhinatrema (Guyana).