''Dermophis parviceps'' 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 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 ...

, and possibly in Colombia, depending on the source. Common names slender caecilian and La Loma caecilian have been coined for it.

Description

Specimens from Costa Rica measure in total length and have 85–102 primary and 11–26 secondary annuli; the annular grooves lack dark pigment seen in ''

Dermophis mexicanus ''Dermophis mexicanus'', also known commonly as the Mexican burrowing caecilian or the Mexican caecilian, and locally as the tapalcua or tepelcua, is a species of limbless amphibian in the family Dermophiidae. The species is native to Mexico and ...

'' and ''

Dermophis oaxacae ''Dermophis oaxacae'', also known Oaxacan caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Dermophiidae. It is endemic to southwestern Mexico and occurs on the Pacific slopes and the Balsas depression in the states of Jalisco, Michoacán, G ...

''. The body is slender. The eyes can be seen through the skin. The head is pinkish, contrasting with the purplish-gray body.

Habitat and conservation

''Dermophis parviceps'' occurs in humid montane and lowland forest at elevations of above sea level. It is a subterranean species that can be found as deep as below the soil surface, but also under logs or 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 ...

and not dependent on water for its reproduction. ''D. parviceps'' can be locally common. It is unknown to which degree deforestation is a threat to it. It is present in many protected areas in Panama and Costa Rica.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1941673 parviceps Amphibians of Colombia Amphibians of Costa Rica Amphibians of Panama Taxa named by Emmett Reid Dunn Amphibians described in 1924 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot