Oscaecilia zweifeli

Oscaecilia zweifeli is a species of caecilian in the family Caeciliidae.[1][2] It is a poorly known species only known from few specimens: the holotype from the imprecise type locality, "a small creek tributary to Río Mazaruni" in Guyana, one from similarly imprecise Cayenne in French Guiana,[1][3] and another one from the Nouragues research station in French Guiana.[4] The specific name zweifeli honors Richard G. Zweifel, an American herpetologist.[5] Common names Zweifel's caecilian[4] and tributary caecilian have been coined for it.[2][5]

Oscaecilia zweifeli
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Caeciliidae
Genus: Oscaecilia
Species:
O. zweifeli
Binomial name
Oscaecilia zweifeli
Taylor, 1968

Description

Oscaecilia zweifeli is one of the more robust-bodied members of its genus. The body has 202–216 primary annuli.[6] The dorsum is grayish lavender in color, while the belly is whitish and has some gray specks. There is a yellowish spot near the nostril and a yellowish band on the side of the head, terminating at the aperture for the tentacle.[3]

Habitat, ecology, and conservation

The habitat requirements and ecology of this are poorly known, but it is assumed to be a subterranean species inhabiting lowland tropical forest.[1] Predators of Oscaecilia zweifeli include the giant tarantula Theraphosa blondi: an adult tarantula was found with its caecilian prey under a rotten trunk, and it had produced a silk cocoon around the head of the dead animal, which was already partly digested.[4] Threats to this species are unknown.[1]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2018). "Oscaecilia zweifeli". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2018: e.T59586A120421421.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2019). "Oscaecilia zweifeli Taylor, 1968". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  3. Cole, Charles J.; Townsend, Carol R.; Reynolds, Robert P.; MacCulloch, Ross D. & Lathrop, Amy (2013). "Amphibians and reptiles of Guyana, South America: illustrated keys, annotated species accounts, and a biogeographic synopsis". Proceedings of the Biological Society of Washington. 125 (4): 317–578. doi:10.2988/0006-324X-125.4.317.
  4. Boistel, R. & Pauwels, O. S. G. (2002). "Oscaecilia zweifeli (Zweifel's caecilian). Predation" (PDF). Herpetological Review. 33 (1): 120–121.
  5. Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael & Grayson, Michael (2013). The Eponym Dictionary of Amphibians. Pelagic Publishing. p. 241. ISBN 978-1-907807-42-8.
  6. Lahanas, Pete N. & Savage, Jay M. (1992). "A new species of caecilian from the Península de Osa of Costa Rica". Copeia. 1992 (3): 703–708. doi:10.2307/1446146. JSTOR 1446146.
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