Description
[Original species account written for Grandisonia larvata]

Approximately 200 mm in length; primary folds more numerous than secondaries; 5-6 premaxillary teeth, 8-11 maxillary teeth; small tentacle that is nearer to the eye than the nostril; circular gill clefts present in adults (modified from Taylor 1968).

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Seychelles

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (3 records).

Seychelles Islands: Mahé, Silhouette, Praslin, La Digue.

Typically all Grandisonia species are fossorial and can be found under leaves, stones, decaying wood, and in wet soil. G. larvata is known from sea-level to at least 260 m. Distribution is thought to be limited to the availability of moist habitat rather than elevation.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Grandisonia larvata is probably best considered uncommon.

All species of Grandisonia are believed to be oviparous. It has been reported that G. larvata has a larval stage.

Trends and Threats
A permit is required for their collection. They are potentially endangered by habitat destruction.

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities

Comments
Holotype: ZMB, collection number unknown, “Seychelles Islands”, collected in 1913 by A. Mérian.

References

Morgan, L. A., and Buttemer, W. A. (1996). ''Predation by the non-native fish Gambusia holbrooki on small Litoria aurea and L. dentata tadpoles.'' Australian Zoologist, 30(2), 143-149.

Taylor, E.H. (1968). The Caecilians of the World. A Taxonomic Review. University of Kansas Press, Lawrence, Kansas.

Wake, M.H. (1977). ''The reproductive biology of caecilians: an evolutionary perspective.'' Reproductive Biology of Amphibians. D.H. Taylor and S.I. Guttman, eds., Plenum Press, New York., 73-101.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2024 Hypogeophis larvata <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1892> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Apr 23, 2025.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2025. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 23 Apr 2025.

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