Rhinatrematidae
11 species in 2 genera
The family Rhinatrematidae is made up of 2 genera of medium sized caecilians (ranging from 161-328 mm) with true short tails (post-cloacal vertebrae present). Members of this family have primary annuli subdivided by secondary and tertiary annuli. Dermal scales occur in all annuli. The mouth is terminal (not countersunk as in more derived caecilians) and the tentacular opening is adjacent to the eye (considered to be the ancestral condition relative to its more anterior position in other caecilians). Rhinatrematids have partially open temporal regions (zygokrotaphy) on the skull. Zygokrotaphy along with a terminal mouth may suggest they are not highly specialized for burrowing. All caecilians have a dual jaw adducting mechanism, which is unique in vertebrates. In rhinatrematids, the muscle is made up of one bundle (all other caecilian clades have two bundles). Rhinatrematids have a ground color that is gray or grayish to purplish; some exhibit a yellow lateral stripe. Their distribution ranges from northern South America through Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Surinam, Guyana, French Guiana, and Venezuela. Like most caecilians, these are found in tropical forests with dense forest litter and rotting vegetation. The presence of larvae indicates that they are egg layers.
Genus Epicrionops (8 species)
Epicrionops bicolor English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops columbianus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops lativittatus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops marmoratus English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops niger no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops parkeri no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops peruvianus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Epicrionops petersi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Genus Rhinatrema (3 species)
Rhinatrema bivittatum no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Rhinatrema ron no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Rhinatrema shiv no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Citation: AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2012. Berkeley, California: AmphibiaWeb. Available: http://amphibiaweb.org/. (Accessed: 2012).
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