Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis

Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is a species of caecilian in the family Scolecomorphidae, the tropical or African caecilians. It was discovered in 1997 on Mount Tchabal Mbabo in the Adamawa Plateau, western Cameroon, and described as a new species to science in 2000.[2][3] Three specimens were collected at the type locality, and no individuals have been observed since.[1]

Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Scolecomorphidae
Genus: Crotaphatrema
Species:
C. tchabalmbaboensis
Binomial name
Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis
Lawson, 2000[2]

Description

This caecilian, the third species in the genus Crotaphatrema, is differentiated from the others by size, body shape, color pattern, and the lack of grooves on its collars.[2]

The type series consists of two adult females measuring 298 and 338 mm (11.7 and 13.3 in) in total length, and a subadult female measuring 278 mm (10.9 in). The body width is 8–10 mm (0.3–0.4 in). The eyes are not visible externally. The dorsum is blue- black and the venter is cream. The border between the dorsal and ventral coloration has a serrated pattern.[2]

Habitat and conservation

The species is known only from the northern face of one mountain, where it was collected from forests on steep, sloping terrain at 1,950–2,000 m (6,400–6,560 ft) above sea level. It is not known if it can survive in the surrounding heavily grazed pastureland. Mount Tchabal Mbabo has been proposed as a national park, which provide protection for the species' forest habitat.[1]

Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis is only known from Mount Tchabal Mbabo, Cameroon

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T59650A16957380. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59650A16957380.en.
  2. Lawson, Dwight P. (2000). "A new caecilian from Cameroon, Africa (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae)". Herpetologica. 56 (1): 77–80. JSTOR 3893129.
  3. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Crotaphatrema tchabalmbaboensis Lawson, 2000". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
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