Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this page were taken by Pier Caccialli and Ted Faust are used with their permission.
PURPLE BURROWING CAECILIAN Lutkenotyphlus brasiliensis
Though it looks suspiciously like a big purplish-brown earthworm, this Caecilian is a subterranean amphibian and its morphological similarities to worms are a result of convergent evolution - two groups independently finding the same answers to the problems by living in the same environment. This species is rarely seen and inhabits damp soils in humid forest areas, coming to the surface only when necessary.
Click on the images to enlarge them.
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FIGURE 1 - (FPANF336PH) Adult, PROCOSARA, PN San Rafael (Pier Caccialli June 2008).
FIGURE 2 - (FPANF337PH) Same individual (Ted Faust June 2008).
FIGURE 3 - (FPANF338PH) Same individual head detail (Ted Faust June 2008).
FIGURE 4 - (FPANF339PH) Same individual head detail (Pier Caccialli June 2008).
FIGURE 5 - (FPANF340PH) Same individual tail (Pier Caccialli June 2008).