''Dermophis glandulosus'' is a species of

caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians. They mostly live hidden in the ground and in stream substrates, making them the least familiar order of amphibians. Caecilians are mostly distributed in the tropics o ...

in the family

Dermophiidae The Dermophiidae are a family of common caecilians. They are found in Central and South America, and Africa. Like other caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform or serpentine amphibians. They mostly live hidden in the ...

. It is found in northwestern Colombia ( Córdoba and Antioquia Departments), Costa Rica, and

Panama Panama ( , ; es, link=no, Panamá ), officially the Republic of Panama ( es, República de Panamá), is a transcontinental country spanning the southern part of North America and the northern part of South America. It is bordered by Co ...

. It is the southernmost species among ''Dermophis''.

Description

''Dermophis glandulosus'' is a moderately large caecilian, measuring up to in total length. The

type specimen In biology, a type is a particular specimen (or in some cases a group of specimens) of an organism to which the scientific name of that organism is formally attached. In other words, a type is an example that serves to anchor or centralizes th ...

was a juvenile measuring 159 mm. Also subsequent specimens were relatively small, leading to a conclusion that it was synonymous with '' Dermophis parviceps''. However, new specimens have shown ''Dermophis glandulosus'' to be a separate, much larger species than ''Dermophis parviceps''. It also lacks the contrasting head coloration of the latter and has more secondary annuli. The dorsum is purplish lavender, whereas the ventral surfaces are dull cream with dim lavender clouding.

Habitat and conservation

''Dermophis glandulosus'' occurs in humid montane and lowland

forest A forest is an area of land dominated by trees. Hundreds of definitions of forest are used throughout the world, incorporating factors such as tree density, tree height, land use, legal standing, and ecological function. The United Nations' ...

s. In Colombia it occurs at elevations of above sea level. It is mainly subterranean, but it is sometimes also found under logs and in leaf litter. It is probably

viviparous Among animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the parent. This is opposed to oviparity which is a reproductive mode in which females lay developing eggs that complete their development and hatch externally from the ...

Deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...

might be a threat, but the seriousness of this threat is unknown. It is found in

La Amistad International Park The La Amistad International Park, or in Spanish , formerly the La Amistad National Park, is a Transboundary Protected Area in Latin America, management of which is shared between Costa Rica ( Caribbean La Amistad and Pacific La Amistad Conservat ...

Darién National Park Darién National Park ( es, Parque Nacional Darién) is a World Heritage Site in Panama. It is about 325 kilometers from Panama City, and is the most extensive of all national parks of Panama and is one of the most important world heritage sites ...

(both in Panama), and Las Cruces Biological Station (Costa Rica).

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1941479 glandulosus Amphibians of Colombia Amphibians of Costa Rica Amphibians of Panama Taxa named by Edward Harrison Taylor Amphibians described in 1955 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot