Herpele squalostoma

Herpele squalostoma
Female (36 cm (14 in) long) with young
Scientific classification
Kingdom:Animalia
Phylum:Chordata
Class:Amphibia
Clade:Gymnophiona
Family:Herpelidae
Genus:Herpele
Species: H. squalostoma
Binomial name
Herpele squalostoma
(Stuchbury, 1836)
Synonyms

Caecilia squalostoma Stutchbury, 1836

Herpele squalostoma is a species of caecilian in the Herpelidae family. It is also known by the common name Congo caecilian.[2] It is found in Central and Western Africa (Cameroon, Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Nigeria, and possibly Angola). Its natural habitats are tropical moist lowland forests, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest.[1]

Reproduction

Herpele squalostoma is probably oviparous and provides parental care: the young feed on their mother's skin (they are "dermatophagous").[3]

References

  1. 1 2 Loader, S.; Wilkinson, M. & Gower, D. (2004). "Herpele squalostoma". The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN. 2004: e.T59565A11963657. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T59565A11963657.en. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  2. ↑ Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Herpele squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836)". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  3. ↑ Kouete, M. T.; Wilkinson, M.; Gower, D. J. (2012). "First reproductive observations for Herpele Peters, 1880 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Herpelidae): evidence of extended parental care and maternal dermatophagy in H. squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836)". ISRN Zoology. 2012: 269690. doi:10.5402/2012/269690.


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