Dermophis parviceps

Dermophis parviceps is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae.[2][3] It is found in Costa Rica and Panama,[1] and possibly in Colombia, depending on the source.[2][3] Common names slender caecilian[3] and La Loma caecilian have been coined for it.[1][2]

Dermophis parviceps
D. parviceps in Heredia Province, Costa Rica
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Dermophiidae
Genus: Dermophis
Species:
D. parviceps
Binomial name
Dermophis parviceps
(Dunn, 1924)
Synonyms[2]
  • Siphonops parviceps Dunn, 1924
  • Gymnopis parviceps (Dunn, 1924)

Description

Specimens from Costa Rica measure 112–217 mm (4.4–8.5 in) in total length and have 85–102 primary and 11–26 secondary annuli; the annular grooves lack dark pigment seen in Dermophis mexicanus and Dermophis oaxacae.[4] The body is slender. The eyes can be seen through the skin.[3] The head is pinkish, contrasting with the purplish-gray body.[4]

Habitat and conservation

Dermophis parviceps occurs in humid montane and lowland forest at elevations of 40–1,200 m (130–3,940 ft) above sea level. It is a subterranean species that can be found as deep as 60 cm (2 ft) below the soil surface, but also under logs or in leaf litter. It is probably viviparous and not dependent on water for its reproduction.[1][3]

D. parviceps can be locally common. It is unknown to which degree deforestation is a threat to it. It is present in many protected areas in Panama and Costa Rica.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2015). "Dermophis parviceps". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2015: e.T59548A54356158. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T59548A54356158.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Dermophis parviceps (Dunn, 1924)". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  3. "Dermophis parviceps". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2009. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
  4. Savage, J. M. & Wake, M. H. (2001). "Reevaluation of the status of taxa of Central American caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona), with comments on their origin and evolution". Copeia. 2001: 52–64. doi:10.1643/0045-8511(2001)001[0052:ROTSOT]2.0.CO;2.
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