Siphonops annulatus

Ringed caecilian
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Family:	Siphonopidae
Genus:	Siphonops
Species:	S. annulatus
Binomial name
Siphonops annulatus (Mikan, 1820)
Synonyms
Caecilia interrupta Cuvier, 1829 Dermophis crassus Cope, 1885 Siphonops annulatus ssp. marmoratus Sawaya, 1937

The ringed caecilian (Siphonops annulatus) is a species of amphibian in the family Siphonopidae from South America. It might have the broadest known distribution among terrestrial caecilian species.

Description

Ringed caecilian measures 286–450 mm (11.3–17.7 in) mm in total length. The body is cylindrical and slightly wider than deep. It is bluish-black to slate in colour. The annular grooves that completely encircle the body (except the 3–4 posteriormost ones) are edged in white or cream.

Distribution and habitat

Widely distributed east of the Andes: originally discovered in Brazil, reported to exist in Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, dry savanna, moist savanna, subtropical or tropical moist shrubland, subtropical or tropical seasonally wet or flooded lowland grassland, pastureland, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.

Reproduction

Nestlings are equipped with 44 spoon-shaped teeth to feed on the outer layer of their mother's skin. Young feed all at once for some seven minutes; then they all rest for three days as the female grows a new outer skin layer. This phenomenon is known as maternal dermatophagy. This practice and morphological similarities are shared with its African relative Boulengerula taitana, suggesting it evolved over 100 million years ago.