''Dermophis oaxacae'', also known Oaxacan caecilian, 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

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also found else ...

to southwestern

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

and occurs on the Pacific slopes and the Balsas depression in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán,

Guerrero Guerrero is one of the 32 states that comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 81 municipalities and its capital city is Chilpancingo and its largest city is Acapulcocopied from article, GuerreroAs of 2020, Guerrero the pop ...

Oaxaca Oaxaca ( , also , , from nci, Huāxyacac ), officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca ( es, Estado Libre y Soberano de Oaxaca), is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of Mexico. It is ...

, and Chiapas.

Description

''Dermophis oaxacae'' is a relatively large caecilian with a reported maximum total length of . It has 119–139 primary and 101–133 secondary annuli; these high counts distinguish it from all other ''Dermophis''. The body is somewhat robust and the head is relatively large. The mouth is subterminal. The eyes are visible through a layer of skin. Living animals have blue-black coloration. The annular grooves are ventrally marked with dark pigment, in sharp contrast to the otherwise pale venter.

Habitat and conservation

''Dermophis oaxacae'' occurs in semi-deciduous tropical forests at elevations up to above sea level. It is a subterranean species. 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 ...

. ''Dermophis oaxacae'' is a poorly known species with few recent observations. It is unknown to which degree deforestation is a threat to it.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q2212653 oaxacae Endemic amphibians of Mexico Balsas dry forests Taxa named by Robert Mertens Amphibians described in 1930 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot