Biology:Herpele

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Short description: Genus of amphibians

Herpele
Herpele squalostoma, female with her young
Scientific classification e
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Animalia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Chordata
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Amphibia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Gymnophiona
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Apoda
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Herpelidae
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Herpele
Peters, 1880
Type species
Caecilia squalostoma
Stutchbury, 1834
Species

See text

Herpele is a genus of caecilians in the family Herpelidae. They are endemic to Central and Western Africa (from southeastern Nigeria east to western Central African Republic and south to western Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly to Angola).[1]

At least Herpele squalostoma is probably oviparous and provides parental care: the young feed on their mother's skin (they are "dermatophagous").[2]

Species

There are two recognized species:[1]

Binomial name and authority Common name
Herpele multiplicata Nieden, 1912 Victoria caecilian
Herpele squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836) Congo caecilian

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Herpele Peters, 1880". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. http://research.amnh.org/vz/herpetology/amphibia/?action=names&genus=Herpele. 
  2. Kouete, M. T.; Wilkinson, M.; Gower, D. J. (2012). "First reproductive observations for Herpele Peters, 1880 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Herpelidae): evidence of extended parental care and maternal dermatophagy in H. squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836)". ISRN Zoology 2012: 269690. doi:10.5402/2012/269690. 

Wikidata ☰ Q2698064 entry