If you’re interested in amphibians, you may be wondering what some of their species are. You’ll learn about the Proteus anguinus, Oacian and the Caecilia thompsoni, for example.
Caecilians
Caecilians are a type of amphibians that are found in the tropical rainforests of South America, Southeast Asia, and Africa. Their skin is covered with glands that make them toxic.
The skin of caecilians is layered, segmented, and ringed. This helps them protect their skin from predators. They also rely on their keen sense of smell to locate prey.
Caecilians can live up to 13 years in captivity. In the wild, their lifespan is unknown.
These animals are known for their fecundity, and have been known to give birth to live young. Most species are viviparous. Some species allow hatchlings to strip off the mother’s skin.
Baby caecilians stay with their mothers for about four weeks. During this time, they lose about 14% of their weight. During feeding, the young caecilians increase in total length.
Idiocranium russeli
This aquatic beast is a cinch to swim and has a plethora of fins to boot. The snout-vent length is also an impressive 114 mm. Idiocranium russeli is one of the smallest of the species.
The caecilian has been known to reside in Africa, Asia and Central America. These elongated, wormlike creatures are largely nocturnal and spend their waking hours feeding in sludge and sediment. One of the more interesting aspects of their life is their metamorphosis from infant to adult. A small number of species are capable of reaching a length of a metre or two. Some are solitary whereas others are social. Most notably, the largest known species, C. thompsoni, is a tad on the shy side. However, it still holds the record for being the largest caecilian to date.
Caecilia thompsoni
Caecilians are amphibians that live in tropical regions. They are the largest amphibian species in the world. They are also the only tentacled amphibians.
Most caecilians live underground, where they move through soil and leaf litter like worms. Some live in the axils of plants above the substrate, while others are aquatic. Regardless, they tend to eat plant debris and invertebrates.
The common yellow-banded caecilian grows to about 23-41 cm (9-16 inches) in length. This species primarily eats worms and similar-sized animals.
Caecilia thompsoni is native to South America. It weighs up to two pounds. Unlike other amphibians, it is a long-lived animal, able to live for more than three years. In addition, it has a snout to help it burrow through dirt.
Caecilians also have a specialized organ in their skull. It detects vibrations and detects light.
Proteus anguinus
Proteus anguinus is an amphibian native to Europe, primarily in Slovenia and Italy. This neotenic salamander has a long life span. It lives in caves and subterranean freshwater biotopes of the Dinaric Karst region. The species has an average lifespan of 68.5 years.
Cave dwelling animals are equipped with mechanoreceptors that enable them to detect their prey in complete darkness. This is achieved by integrating electro-perception, chemo-perception and other sensory systems.
One of the main threats to the survival of olm is the depletion of its habitat. Olm is confined to a limited area of Europe, and is listed as a vulnerable species on the IUCN Red List. However, it is protected by several national legislations.
The Olm has the ability to locate weak electric fields and sounds by means of its complex functional-morphological orientation of its sensory cells. These sensory epithelia in the inner ear allow the animal to receive sound waves and vibrations in water.
Salamanders
Salamanders are one of the most diverse amphibians. They come in a variety of colors and camouflage patterns.
Salamanders can live in the water, in trees, or on land. These creatures have long tails, smooth skin, and are often nocturnal. Many species have been known to have glands in their skin that secrete poisonous substances. Some of these salamanders are predators and may use their tails to attack other animals.
Salamanders are part of the class Amphibia. There are three main groups of Amphibia, namely Anura, Plethodontidae, and Hynobiidae.
Almost all salamanders live near water. They lay their eggs in a wet place on land, or in the water. In the spring, they begin breeding. A female salamander will lay between 450 and 450+ eggs. During the larval stage, the eggs hatch in about 3-4 weeks.
