''Dermophis gracilior'' 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 on the Pacific slopes of

Cordillera de Talamanca The Cordillera de Talamanca is a mountain range that lies in the southeast half of Costa Rica and the far west of Panama. Much of the range and the area around it is included in La Amistad International Park, which also is shared between the two ...

in eastern Costa Rica and western

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 ...

, as well as in the central Pacific Costa Rica. Some sources also report it from the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica.

Description

''Dermophis gracilior'' is a moderate-sized caecilian measuring in total length. It has 91–117 primary and 65–96 secondary annuli. The body is somewhat robust (length 23 to 34 times the body width). The upper surface is lead-gray in color, whereas the lower one is cream with dark mottling, or largely gray to dull black. The annular grooves are similarly colored as the adjacent areas.

Habitat and conservation

''Dermophis gracilior'' occurs in humid lowland, premontane, and montane forests at elevations above sea level. It is a subterranean species that can be found under logs and surface debris. 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 ...

. ''D. gracilior'' is a poorly known species known from few specimens. Deforestation might be a threat to it. It is found in the

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 ...

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

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2249396 gracilior Amphibians of Costa Rica Amphibians of Panama Amphibians described in 1902 Taxa named by Albert Günther Taxonomy articles created by Polbot