Typhlonectidae
Family of amphibians
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Typhlonectidae, also known as aquatic caecilians or rubber eels, are a family of caecilians found east of the Andes in South America.[1]
| Aquatic caecilians | |
|---|---|
| |
| Typhlonectes natans | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Gymnophiona |
| Clade: | Apoda |
| Family: | Typhlonectidae Taylor, 1968 |
| Genera | |
|
Atretochoana | |
They are viviparous animals, giving birth to young that possess external gills. Of the five extant genera in the family, Atretochoana, Potamotyphlus and Typhlonectes are entirely aquatic, while Chthonerpeton and Nectocaecilia are semi-aquatic.[1] Atretochoana reaches 100 cm (39 in) in length, but other species in the family range from 20 to 60 cm (7.9–23.6 in).[1] A sixth typhlonectid genus, Ymboirana, was recently described and is known exclusively from fossil material.[2]
Taxonomy
- Genus Atretochoana
- Genus Chthonerpeton
- Genus Nectocaecilia
- Genus Potamotyphlus
- Genus Typhlonectes
- †Genus Ymboirana
