Animal Profiles
Amphibians

Caecilian

Gymnophiona

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Caecilians are limbless amphibians with concealed eyes and sensory tentacles. This account describes the aquatic caecilian Typhlonectes natans, also called a rubber eel, despite belonging to a different animal group from eels.

Typhlonectes natans (caecilian)

Captive aquatic caecilian (Typhlonectes natans) at Brookfield Zoo, showing the head and front of the body.

At a glance

Habitat
Rivers and lakes
Diet
Carnivore
Food
Worms and other small aquatic animals.

Classification

Common name
Caecilian
Browse group
Amphibians
Scientific name or taxon
Gymnophiona
Taxon rank
order
Order
Gymnophiona
Source classification
Amphibia

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is an amphibian rather than an eel.
  • Sensory tentacles detect chemical cues.
  • Females give birth to live young.

Habitat and range

Typhlonectes natans is native to lowland rivers and streams in Colombia and Venezuela. Unlike many burrowing land-dwelling caecilians, it lives in fresh water and can shelter in sand and leaf litter.

Appearance and adaptations

The elongated dark grey body is smooth and marked by ring-like folds. Small eyes provide limited information, while tentacles near the snout detect chemical cues.

Diet and behaviour

Worms, insect larvae and small fish provide food. After approaching slowly, the animal seizes prey with gripping teeth. It can breathe through the skin and surface for air, and females give birth to live young.

Sources

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