Caecilians

Definition

Caecilians are a group of limbless, serpentine amphibians primarily found in tropical regions. They are adapted to a burrowing lifestyle with elongated bodies and reduced or absent eyes.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Caecilians belong to the order Gymnophiona.
2. They have a unique sensory tentacle located between their eyes and nostrils.
3. Most caecilians are fossorial, meaning they live underground.
4. Their skin is segmented with ring-like folds called annuli.
5. Caecilian reproduction can be oviparous (egg-laying) or viviparous (live-bearing).

Review Questions

• Which order do caecilians belong to?
• What unique feature do caecilians have that aids in their sensory perception?
• How do most caecilians adapt to their burrowing lifestyle?

Related terms

Amphibians: Cold-blooded vertebrates that typically undergo metamorphosis from a larval stage with gills to an adult stage with lungs.

Gymnophiona: The scientific order comprising all species of caecilians.

Fossorial: Refers to animals adapted to digging and living underground.