Caeciliidae

Caeciliidae is a family of caecilians, a group of limbless, burrowing amphibians in the order Gymnophiona. Members are elongated, legless vertebrates with a wormlike appearance and a conspicuous annulated body. Most have small eyes, often covered by skin or fused into a light- or color-lacking spot, and a pair of chemosensory tentacles near the snout. The skull is typically reinforced for burrowing. The skin glands may produce secretions; coloration ranges from brown to gray, sometimes with patterning.

Distribution and habitat: Caeciliidae species are predominantly Neotropical, found across Central and South America and adjacent regions. They inhabit moist soil, leaf litter, and sometimes rotting wood or termite nests, spending most of their lives underground.

Ecology: They feed mainly on soil invertebrates, especially earthworms and termites. They are generally fossorial and rarely seen on the surface.

Reproduction: Reproduction is variable; modes include oviparity with terrestrial or aquatic larvae and viviparity in some species, with specialized reproductive strategies such as maternal nourishment.

Taxonomy: Caeciliidae is one of the several families within Gymnophiona. It comprises several genera, including Caecilia, Oscaecilia, and Microcaecilia; taxonomic revisions in recent decades have reorganized relationships among caecilian groups, and species assignments may differ across classifications.

Conservation: Many species have restricted ranges and face threats from deforestation, agriculture, and soil disturbance. Due to limited data, several species are listed as Data Deficient.