|
Boulengerula
''Boulengerula'' is a genus of amphibians in the family Herpelidae. They are found in East Africa. They are sometimes known as Boulenger's caecilians or Usambara bluish-gray caecilians. Ecology ''Boulengerula taitana'' feeds on earthworms, termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes (eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blatto ...s, dipteran larvae and other soil macrofauna. Presumably other ''Boulengerula'' have similar diets. Species There are eight species: References Amphibians of Africa Amphibian genera Taxa named by Gustav Tornier Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Caecilian-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Taitanus
''Boulengerula taitana'' (common names: Taita African caecilian, Taita Hills caecilian, Taita Mountains caecilian) is a species of caecilian. It is endemic to the Taita Hills region of southeast Kenya. ''Boulengerula taitana'' are unique caecilians in appearance, fertilization type, and parental care. From their similar shape and presentation to worms, and their internalized fertilization, they set themselves apart from many other amphibians. ''D. taitana'' interactions between mothers and newly hatched young is unique in that the mother uses her own skin as a food resource for offspring. This species also has physiological adaptations in place to increase oxygen uptake and affinity to fit their underground lifestyle. The ''Boulengerula taitana'' differentiates itself from its close relatives in ways rarely documented and researched before. Description As stated above, ''B. taitana'' are caecilians, which are amphibians who are limbless and long in length; this amphibians’ skin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Taitana
''Boulengerula taitana'' (common names: Taita African caecilian, Taita Hills caecilian, Taita Mountains caecilian) is a species of caecilian. It is endemic to the Taita Hills region of southeast Kenya. ''Boulengerula taitana'' are unique caecilians in appearance, fertilization type, and parental care. From their similar shape and presentation to worms, and their internalized fertilization, they set themselves apart from many other amphibians. ''D. taitana'' interactions between mothers and newly hatched young is unique in that the mother uses her own skin as a food resource for offspring. This species also has physiological adaptations in place to increase oxygen uptake and affinity to fit their underground lifestyle. The ''Boulengerula taitana'' differentiates itself from its close relatives in ways rarely documented and researched before. Description As stated above, ''B. taitana'' are caecilians, which are amphibians who are limbless and long in length; this amphibians’ skin ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula
''Boulengerula'' is a genus of amphibians in the family Herpelidae. They are found in East Africa. They are sometimes known as Boulenger's caecilians or Usambara bluish-gray caecilians. Ecology ''Boulengerula taitana'' feeds on earthworms, termite Termites are small insects that live in colonies and have distinct castes (eusocial) and feed on wood or other dead plant matter. Termites comprise the infraorder Isoptera, or alternatively the epifamily Termitoidae, within the order Blatto ...s, dipteran larvae and other soil macrofauna. Presumably other ''Boulengerula'' have similar diets. Species There are eight species: References Amphibians of Africa Amphibian genera Taxa named by Gustav Tornier Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Caecilian-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Spawlsi
''Boulengerula spawlsi'' is a species of caecilian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to Kenya and only know from the vicinity of its type locality, Ngaia Forest Reserve, in the Nyambene Hills, Meru County; the type locality is also spelled "Ngaya" or "Ngaja". The specific name ''spawlsi'' honours Stephen Spawls who first collected this species and who has contributed substantially to African herpetology. Common name Spawls' boolee has been coined for it. Discovery and taxonomy The first specimen was collected in the Nyambene Hills in 2007 and was considered most similar to ''Boulengerula denhardti''. Additional specimens were found in 2008 and tentatively identified as ''Boulengerula denhardti''. However, closer examination of these specimens, new specimens from the Nyambene Hills, and comparative material from museums revealed that these specimens represented a new species, which was formally described in 2017. Description Adult males measure and adult females in total ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Niedeni
''Boulengerula niedeni'', the Sagalla caecilian, is a worm-like amphibian first described in 2005. The species was described from a specimen discovered on Sagala Hill, an isolated mountain block of the Taita Hills in Kenya, and is not known from other areas. Little of the original forest remains on Sagalla Hill, but the species seems to adapt to human disturbance associated with small-scale farming activities; it is not found in the eucalyptus plantations that cover much of the hill. Because of the small range of this species, it is as of 2013 listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, while previously from 2006 been listed as critically endangered. It has been listed as one of the top-10 "focal species" in 2008 by the Evolutionarily Distinct and Globally Endangered (EDGE) project. Description The Sagalla caecilian is a caecilian, a highly unusual group of amphibians characterized by an elongated, limbless, externally segmented body, closely resembling ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Fischeri
''Boulengerula fischeri'' is a species of caecilian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to Rwanda and only known from around its type locality near Cyangugu, southwestern Rwanda. The specific name ''fischeri'' honours Eberhard Fischer, a German botanist who has worked with Rwandan fauna and flora. Common name Fischer's African caecilian has been coined for it. Live animals have the appearance of "live pink spaghetti". Description Adult males measure and adult females in total length. The holotype is an immature female in total length. The heaviest specimens weighs nearly . The body is very slender, with a maximum body width of . There are 183–205 primary annuli. Colouration is pinkish, with the head and neck and the posterior few centimeters of the body a brighter pink than the midbody, or a paler pink head, vivid pink anteriorly, and the body becoming more lavender posteriorly. Habitat and conservation ''Boulengerula fischeri'' is known from primary montane forest and ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Boulengeri
''Boulengerula boulengeri'' is a species of amphibian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to the Usambara Mountains, Tanzania. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forests, arable land, plantations, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby .... It is possible that what we now call ''Boulengerula boulengeri'' contains two unnamed, cryptic species. Taste Buds Boulengerula boulengeri are the first organisms in which occurrence of taste buds in the terrestrial animals was found. Taste buds are present in larval forms, whereas there is taste discs in adults. Investigation took place in this organism using standard light ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Denhardti
''Boulengerula denhardti'' (Denhardt's African caecilian) is a species of amphibian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to Kenya. It is only known from its type locality, the Tana River valley, as well as from the Ngaia Forest, Meru County. It is named for German explorer brothers Clemens Denhardt and Gustav Denhardt who explored the area where it was discovered. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests and heavily degraded former forest. It is threatened by habitat loss Habitat destruction (also termed habitat loss and habitat reduction) is the process by which a natural habitat becomes incapable of supporting its native species. The organisms that previously inhabited the site are displaced or dead, thereby ..., expanding agriculture, use of herbicides and pesticides and expanding human settlements. References denhardti Endemic fauna of Kenya Amphibians of Kenya Amphibians described in 1912 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Changamwensis
''Boulengerula changamwensis'', the Changamwe caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Herpelidae. It is also known as Changamwensis African caecilian and Changamwe lowland caecilian. It is found in southern Kenya (Changamwe and the Shimba Hills) and Malawi, and possibly in the intervening Tanzania and Mozambique. It is threatened by habitat loss for deforestation and collecting of firewood, agriculture and farming, herbicides and pesticides and expanding human settlement. It is protected by the Shimba Hills and parts of Shire Highlands The Shire Highlands are a plateau in southern Malawi, located east of the Shire River. It is a major agricultural area and the most densely populated part of the country. Geography The highlands cover an area of roughly 7250 square kilometers. t ... but its protection in Kaya Forest may also be threatened by the deforestation and collecting of firewood. In 2012, the IUCN changed the status from Data Deficient to Endangered because i ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Boulengerula Uluguruensis
''Boulengerula uluguruensis'', the Uluguru pink caecilian or Uluguru African caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Caeciliidae. It is endemic to Tanzania where it is found in the Nguu, Nguru, and Uluguru Mountains. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical moist lowland forests, subtropical or tropical moist montane forest Montane ecosystems are found on the slopes of mountains. The alpine climate in these regions strongly affects the ecosystem because temperatures fall as elevation increases, causing the ecosystem to stratify. This stratification is a crucial f ...s, rural gardens, and heavily degraded former forest. References uluguruensis Amphibians of Tanzania Endemic fauna of Tanzania Taxa named by Thomas Barbour Taxa named by Arthur Loveridge Amphibians described in 1928 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot {{Caecilian-stub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Herpelidae
Herpelidae are a family of caecilians, sometimes known as the African caecilians. They are found in Sub-Saharan Africa. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes. They are the sister group to the newly discovered Chikilidae. Distribution Herpelidae occur primarily in Central and East Africa, barely reaching West Africa (southeastern Nigeria), and northern parts of Southern Africa (Malawi, possibly Zambia). Genera There are two genera with ten species in total: * ''Boulengerula'' Tornier, 1896 – Boulenger's caecilians, Usambara bluish-gray caecilians (8 species) * ''Herpele ''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 A ...'' Peters, 1880 – Congo caecilians (2 species) References {{Taxonbar, from=Q3086167 Amphibian families Amphibians of Sub ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
Earthworm
An earthworm is a terrestrial invertebrate that belongs to the phylum Annelida. They exhibit a tube-within-a-tube body plan; they are externally segmented with corresponding internal segmentation; and they usually have setae on all segments. They occur worldwide where soil, water, and temperature allow. Earthworms are commonly found in soil, eating a wide variety of organic matter. This organic matter includes plant matter, living protozoa, rotifers, nematodes, bacteria, fungi, and other microorganisms. An earthworm's digestive system runs the length of its body. An earthworm respires (breathes) through its skin. It has a double transport system made of coelomic fluid that moves within the fluid-filled coelom and a simple, closed circulatory system. It has a central and peripheral nervous system. Its central nervous system consists of two ganglia above the mouth, one on either side, connected to a nerve running along its length to motor neurons and sensory cells in each s ... [...More Info...] [...Related Items...] OR: [Wikipedia] [Google] [Baidu] |
