Uraeotyphlidae
Encyclopedia
Uraeotyphlidae is the family of Indian caecilians. It is a monotypic family containing a single genus, Uraeotyphlus. There are six species of caecilian
s in this genus, all of which are found in the Western Ghats
in Kerala
State, peninsular India
.
They are relatively small sized caecilians ranging from 23 centimetres (9.1 in) to 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length. Unlike the more 'advanced' caecilians, members of this family have a true tail with vertebrae, and their skull
has a relatively complex structure. However, unlike the more 'primitive' caecilians, the mouth is recessed below the snout, there are no tertiary annuli, and the tentacular opening are far forward of the eyes, and below the nostril. Molecular studies support their placement as a sister taxon to Ichthyophiidae
.
They are burrowing animals, which lay eggs that hatch into free-living larvae. Their habitat
is primarily the soil of the tropical forest floor.
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 in this genus, all of which are found in the Western Ghats
Western Ghats
The Western Ghats, Western Ghauts or the Sahyādri is a mountain range along the western side of India. It runs north to south along the western edge of the Deccan Plateau, and separates the plateau from a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea. The Western Ghats block rainfall to the Deccan...
in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
State, peninsular India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
They are relatively small sized caecilians ranging from 23 centimetres (9.1 in) to 30 centimetres (11.8 in) in length. Unlike the more 'advanced' caecilians, members of this family have a true tail with vertebrae, and their skull
Skull
The skull is a bony structure in the head of many animals that supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain.The skull is composed of two parts: the cranium and the mandible. A skull without a mandible is only a cranium. Animals that have skulls are called craniates...
has a relatively complex structure. However, unlike the more 'primitive' caecilians, the mouth is recessed below the snout, there are no tertiary annuli, and the tentacular opening are far forward of the eyes, and below the nostril. Molecular studies support their placement as a sister taxon to Ichthyophiidae
Ichthyophiidae
Ichthyophiidae is the family of Asiatic tailed caecilians or fish caecilians. They are found in south-east Asia.They are primitive caecilians, lacking many of the derived characters found in the other families. For example, the mouth is not recessed underneath the head, they possess tails, and have...
.
They are burrowing animals, which lay eggs that hatch into free-living larvae. Their habitat
Habitat
* Habitat , a place where a species lives and grows*Human habitat, a place where humans live, work or play** Space habitat, a space station intended as a permanent settlement...
is primarily the soil of the tropical forest floor.
Taxonomy
Family Uraeotyphlidae- Genus Uraeotyphlus
- Uraeotyphlus gansiUraeotyphlus gansiUraeotyphlus gansi is a rare limbless species of caecilian, endemic to the Western Ghats of India. It was discovered in the Kaakkaachi-Naalumukku area of the Kalakkad Mundanthurai Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats. Uraeotyphlus gansi was named after Carl Gans, a renowned herpetologist from...
- Uraeotyphlus interruptusUraeotyphlus interruptusUraeotyphlus interruptus is a species of caecilian found in India....
- Kerala Caecilian - Uraeotyphlus malabaricusUraeotyphlus malabaricusThe Uraeotyphlus malabaricus or Malabar caecilian is a caecilian with a short and stout body that is violet coloured dorsally and lighter ventrally. The eyes are distinct and surrounded by a light ring. The tentacle is placed ventrally, close to the lip. Light coloured areas are present around the...
- Malabar Caecilian - Uraeotyphlus menoniUraeotyphlus menoniUraeotyphlus menoni is a species of caecilian found in the Western Ghats of India.-Description:It is a greyish species with a white belly that is blotched with grey. The head is light violet in colour with light mottling and the distinct eyes are surrounded by a light ring. The tip of snout and...
- Menon's Caecilian - Uraeotyphlus narayaniUraeotyphlus narayaniUraeotyphlus narayani is a species of caecilian endemic to the Western Ghats of India.-Description:This species is grey with a pale flesh coloured belly. A median greenish line runs between the chin and tail. Eyes are distinct with a white patch around it. Nostril are placed dorsally on the snout...
- Narayan's Caecilian - Uraeotyphlus oommeniUraeotyphlus oommeniUraeotyphlus oommeni Gower & Wilkinson, 2007A new species of Uraeotyphlus, described on the basis of a single, distinctive specimen from the Western Ghats of southern Kerala, India. This species is most similar to U. malabaricus in that it lacks a clear differentiation between primary annuli and...
- Bonnacord Caecilian - Uraeotyphlus oxyurusUraeotyphlus oxyurusUraeotyphlus oxyurus is a species of caecilian endemic to the Western Ghats of India.-Description:This species has a thick body and a narrow head and short tail. Its body is dark brown in colour with a whitish tail tip. The chin and throat are light brown. Its eyes are distinct and surrounded by a...
- Red Caecilian
- Uraeotyphlus gansi