Biology:Typhlonectidae

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Short description: Family of amphibians

Aquatic caecilians
Typhlonectes natans5.jpg
Typhlonectes natans
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Typhlonectidae
Taylor, 1968
Genera

Atretochoana
Chthonerpeton
Nectocaecilia
Potamotyphlus
Typhlonectes
Ymboirana

Typhlonectidae, also known as aquatic caecilians or rubber eels, are a family of caecilians found east of the Andes in South America.[1]

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

References

Wikidata ☰ Q141997 entry