Caecilian
Gymnophiona
Quick answer
Caecilians are a group of limbless, worm-like amphibians that live mostly hidden in damp soil and leaf litter across the tropics of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They range from a few centimeters to over 1.5 m (5 ft) long, have tiny or skin-covered eyes, and rely on a pair of sensory tentacles to find prey underground. Long-lived for amphibians, some caecilians survive well over a decade.
Caecilian facts at a glance
| Scientific name | Gymnophiona |
|---|---|
| Diet | Carnivore (worms, insects, small invertebrates) |
| Habitat | Damp soil and leaf litter in the tropics |
| Lifespan | Often more than a decade |
| Length | From a few cm up to 1.5 m (5 ft) |
| Conservation status | Varies by species |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
|---|---|
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Gymnophiona |
Where it lives
Damp soil and leaf litter across the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America.
Behavior and senses
Caecilians are secretive amphibians that spend most of their lives burrowing through moist soil and leaf litter, and a few species are fully aquatic. With no limbs, they move like worms or snakes, pushing through the ground with a strong, muscular body. Their eyes are tiny and often covered by skin or bone, so they navigate using a unique pair of retractable tentacles between the eyes and nostrils that detect chemicals and prey.
Diet and feeding
Caecilians are carnivores that eat earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates found underground. They seize prey with strong jaws lined with backward-curving teeth and may spin to subdue it. Their underground lifestyle keeps them close to a steady supply of soil-dwelling animals.
Habitat and range
As a group, caecilians live across the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, with none in most temperate regions. They favor warm, damp environments such as rainforest soil, riverbanks, and leaf litter. Because they live hidden underground or in water, they are rarely seen and remain among the least-known amphibians.
Reproduction and conservation
Caecilians have remarkable reproduction: some lay eggs while others give birth to live young, and in several species the young feed on a special layer of their mother's skin. As a diverse group their conservation status varies by species, with many too poorly known to assess, while some face threats from habitat loss. Their secretive habits mean scientists are still discovering new kinds.
Frequently asked questions about the Caecilian
What is a caecilian?
A caecilian is a limbless, worm-like amphibian that lives mostly underground in damp tropical soil. Despite looking like worms or snakes, caecilians are amphibians, related to frogs and salamanders.
Are caecilians worms or snakes?
Neither. Caecilians are amphibians that have evolved a long, limbless body for burrowing, which makes them resemble large earthworms or snakes, but they are not closely related to either.
What do caecilians eat?
Caecilians are carnivores that eat earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates they encounter in the soil, gripping prey with strong, toothed jaws.
Can caecilians see?
Only poorly. Their eyes are tiny and often covered by skin or bone, so instead of relying on sight they use a special pair of tentacles to sense chemicals and locate prey in the dark.
Where do caecilians live?
They live in the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, in damp soil, leaf litter, and riverbanks, where they stay hidden most of the time.
Do caecilians care for their young?
Yes, in some species. The young of certain caecilians feed on a nutrient-rich outer layer of their mother's skin, an unusual form of parental care among amphibians.
