Description
Adult Caecilia volcani are medium-sized (total length to 320 mm) caecilians with 112-124 primary annular folds and 14-37 secondary annular folds. The eyes are visible under the skin, splenial teeth are present, the tongue has dark narial plugs, and the total length divided by the mid-body width is 30-37 mm.

Coloration in life is a uniform slate gray, vaguely lighter on the head, neck, and lighter still on the lips and underside of the snout. In preservative, the dorsum of the animal is dark charcoal grey with a lighter shade on the sides and belly. Annular folds are darker than the lateral coloration. The snout is light tan as are the margin of the lower jaws, and a small circle at the vent.

Distribution and Habitat

Country distribution from AmphibiaWeb's database: Panama

	View distribution map in BerkeleyMapper.
	View Bd and Bsal data (1 records).

This caecilian is endemic to Panamá and fewer than 20 specimens have been deposited from three provinces (Bocas del Toro, Chiriquí, and Cochlé). The altitudinal range for this species is from 500m – 1100m. All specimens have been collected within 20km of the continental divide and the disjunct range may represent poor sampling of the intervening area.

Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors
Unknown

Trends and Threats
Unknown

Possible reasons for amphibian decline

General habitat alteration and loss
Habitat modification from deforestation, or logging related activities
Intensified agriculture or grazing
Urbanization
Disturbance or death from vehicular traffic
Floods
Drainage of habitat
Habitat fragmentation
Local pesticides, fertilizers, and pollutants
Long-distance pesticides, toxins, and pollutants

Comments
In 2001, confusion over which specimen is the actual holotype and which specimens were originally photographed was clarified. The holotype is in the University of Kansas collection (UKMNH 203035). Summers and Wake provide a redescription of the holotype, a large female with fully yolked eggs (Summers and Wake 2001).

References

Ahl, E. (1924). ''Über einige afrikanische Frösche.'' Zoologischer Anzeiger, 59/60, 269-273.

Savage, J.M. and Wake, M.H. (1972). ''Geographic variation and systematics of the Middle American caecilians, genera Dermophis and Gymnophis.'' Copeia, 1972(4), 680-695.

Summers, A.P. and Wake, M.H. (2001). ''A clarification regarding the holotype of Caecilia volcani.'' Copeia, 2001(2), 561-562.

Species Account Citation: AmphibiaWeb 2021 Caecilia volcani <https://amphibiaweb.org/species/1875> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed Nov 22, 2024.

Citation: AmphibiaWeb. 2024. <https://amphibiaweb.org> University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. Accessed 22 Nov 2024.

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