Typhlonectidae
13 species in 5 genera
Typhlonectids are unique among caecilians in that they are secondarily aquatic. Members range from 140-750 mm total length. All 5 genera in this family are viviparous and produce juveniles that shed their gills early on. Members may be completely aquatic or semi-aquatic; all make burrows either at water level or underwater. Fetuses feed intrauterinely throughout gestation. Typhlonectids possess tracheal lungs and narial plugs, secondary zygokrotaphic skulls, and lack annular scales as well as secondary annuli. One member of this family, Atretochoana eiselti, is the largest extant lungless tetrapod (725 mm), and is known from only 2 specimens. This family is distributed in northern South America. The monophyly of this group is strongly supported through morphology, ecology, and geography. Some caecilian researchers have considered this family to be nested within Caeciliidae.
Typhlonectes natans
Photo by Henk Wallays
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Genus Atretochoana (1 species)
Atretochoana eiselti English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Genus Chthonerpeton (8 species)
Chthonerpeton arii no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton braestrupi no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton exile no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton indistinctum English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton noctinectes no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton onorei no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton perissodus no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video Chthonerpeton viviparum no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Genus Nectocaecilia (1 species)
Nectocaecilia petersii no English account no non-English account no photos no sound/video
Genus Potomotyphlus (1 species)
Potomotyphlus kaupii no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video
Genus Typhlonectes (2 species)
Typhlonectes compressicauda no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video Typhlonectes natans no English account no non-English account photos no sound/video