Amphibians · Gymnophiona · Ichthyophiidae

Ceylon Caecilian

Ichthyophis glutinosus

Least Concern

The species is abundant and widely distributed; it faces no significant short-term risk. See full glossary

The Ceylon caecilian is a subterranean legless amphibian endemic to Sri Lanka, with bluish skin and a yellow stripe along the flank. It was the first caecilian whose life cycle was studied in depth, in the early twentieth century. The mother coils around the clutch until it hatches, and the larvae then make for water to complete their development.

Size

25 cm – 40 cm

Lifespan

12 years

Diet

Carnivore

Feeds mainly on other animals.

Activity

Nocturnal

Active mainly at night.

Social structure

Solitary

Lives and hunts alone, joining others only to breed.

Sighting difficulty

Easy

RainforestTemperate forestIslandsCarnivore Nocturnal Solitary Amphibian Rainforest Temperate forest Islands

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Fun facts

It was one of the first caecilians whose complete life cycle was documented, in a pioneering study of the early twentieth century that revealed maternal care of the clutch in a group about which almost nothing was known.
The mother coils around the eggs and stays with them until they hatch, without eating, keeping them moist with the secretions of her skin.
Its larvae are aquatic, unlike those of the live-bearing caecilians: they hatch with gills and make for streams and pools to complete their development.

Life cycle & biology

Skeleton type: Vertebrate - internal bony skeleton (amphibian)
Habitat & environment: Damp soils of forests, tea plantations and gardens in Sri Lanka
Sexual maturity: 3 years
Gestation / incubation: The clutch is guarded by the mother until hatching
Litter / clutch size: 40 eggs

Sources consulted: https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ichthyophis_glutinosus