Ichthyophiidae

57 species in 2 genera

Commonly Called Asian Caecilians, Fish Caecilians, Asian Tailed Caecilians	Ichthyophis bannanicus Photo by Nikolai Orlov (Click for family gallery)
Ichthyophiids can be diagnosed by the combination of partial external division of the atrium and a long anterior pericardial space. These caecilians have true tails (like rhinatrematids) with caudal vertebrae, generally a counter-sunk lower jaw, an advanced dual jaw closing mechanism and primary annuli subdivided by secondary and sometimes tertiary annuli (absent in the genus Uraeotyphlus). Annuli in some species are straight posteriorly but angled anteriorly when viewed ventrally. Dermal scales are found in annular grooves. The tentacular opening lies between the nostrils and the eye or closer to the eye, or anterior on the snout below the nostril (as in Uraeotyphlus). Unlike rhinatrematids, ichthyophiid skulls are more solidly roofed (stegokrotaphic). The mouth may be terminal or subterminal. Members of this family may reach 500 mm, with the smallest species at 135 mm total length. Clutches are laid in moist soil or a burrow near water (ponds or streams). Females attend their clutches until larvae emerge to complete their metamorphosis in water. Much is still unknown about the natural history of these species. Ichthyophiids are found in South and Southeast Asia. The family Ichthyophiidae has undergone some taxonomic revision, and now includes Uraeotyphlus, formerly placed in its own family (see Wilkinson et al. 2011). Written by AmphibiaWeb
Notable Family Characteristics Fossorial, Terrestrial Occurs in a variety of habitat, primary and secondary forests, agricultural fields or plantings (e.g., tea plantations) Adults have a true tail although short with caudal vertebrae Eggs are laid in moist soil or underground chambers near water where the female cares for the eggs until the larvae hatch. The gilled larvae then move to nearby water (standing or moving) to complete development Morphological features include: 1) distinct primary annuli, divided by secondary grooves; 2) generally a counter-sunk lower jaw, an advanced dual jaw closing mechanisml; 3) mouth terminal or subterminal; 4) dermal scales present in primary grooves; 5) skull solidly roofed (stegokrotaphic) Distribution limited to South and Southeast Asia
Cartography Credit: Zoe Yoo, UC Berkeley Range maps sources: AmphibiaWeb, UC Berkeley, and IUCN RedList Download PDF
Relevant Reference Wilkinson, M., San Mauro, D., Sherratt, E., and Gower, D. J. 2011. A nine-family classification of caecilians (Amphibia: Gymnophiona). Zootaxa 2874: 41-64. Vitt, L. J., and J. P. Caldwell. 2013. Herpetology. An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles. Fourth Edition. Amsterdam: Elsevier.

List with Species Account Details

List with Photos

Genus Ichthyophis (50 species)

Ichthyophis acuminatus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis alfredi	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis asplenius	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis atricollaris	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis beddomei	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis benjii	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis bernisi	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis biangularis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis billitonensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis bombayensis	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis cardamomensis	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis catlocensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis chaloensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis daribokensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis davidi	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis dulitensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis elongatus	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis garoensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis glandulosus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis glutinosus	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis humphreyi	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis hypocyaneus	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis javanicus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis khumhzi	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis kodaguensis	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis kohtaoensis	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis lakimi	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis laosensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis larutensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis longicephalus	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis mindanaoensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis monochrous	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis moustakius	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis multicolor	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis nguyenorum	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis nigroflavus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis nokrekensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis orthoplicatus	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis paucidentulus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis paucisulcus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis pauli	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis pseudangularis	account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis sendenyu	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis sikkimensis	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis singaporensis	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis sumatranus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis supachaii	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis tricolor	no account	photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis weberi	account	no photos	no sound/video
Ichthyophis youngorum	no account	no photos	no sound/video

Genus Uraeotyphlus (7 species)

Uraeotyphlus gansi	account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus interruptus	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus malabaricus	account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus menoni	account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus narayani	account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus oommeni	no account	no photos	no sound/video
Uraeotyphlus oxyurus	account	no photos	no sound/video

AmphibiaWeb's policy on data use.