A remarkable young Scolecomorphus vittatus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona Scolecomorphidae) from the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania

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dc.creatorLoader, Simon
dc.creatorWilkinson, Mark
dc.creatorGower, David
dc.creatorMsuya, Charles A.
dc.date2016-07-14T20:57:04Z
dc.date2016-07-14T20:57:04Z
dc.date2002-12
dc.date.accessioned2021-05-03T13:29:43Z
dc.date.available2021-05-03T13:29:43Z
dc.descriptionA description is given of the external morphology of a single young caecilian (gymnophionan) amphibian from the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania, referable to Scolecomorphus vittatus (Boulenger, 1895). This is the smallest known free-living Scolecomorphus, and it is characterized by many remarkable features previously unrecorded for any life-history stage of any caecilian. The cheeks have conspicuous, posteroventrally divergent paraoral processes that border a concavity on the ventral surface of the snout. The mandibles are very flexible about their articulation with the cranium, and they have a broader curvature than the upper jaw. The dentition is heterogeneous, with adult-like monocusped teeth in single rows, but also some supernumerary teeth, some of which are bicornute. The posterior parts of the paraoral processes bear a small number of monocuspid teeth that lie outside, and project away from, the mouth. The nuchal region of the body bears a distinctive concavity on the underside of the throat, bordered by longitudinal ridges that terminate in fleshy nipples. All of these features are unknown in adult Scolecomorphus, and many are unique for caecilians, and they suggest a highly distinctive life-history stage. The discovery and description of this specimen adds substantially to the currently meagre information on the life history of scolecomorphids and of the diversity of caecilian reproductive biology. Two modes of viviparity in caecilians are identified, with S. vittatus resembling the caeciliid Geotrypetes in giving birth to small altricial young that seem to require extended post-parturition parental care.
dc.identifierLoader, S.P., Wilkinson, M., Gower, D.J. and Msuya, C.A., 2003. A remarkable young Scolecomorphus vittatus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Scolecomorphidae) from the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania. Journal of Zoology, 259(1), pp.93-101.
dc.identifierhttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3232
dc.identifier10.1017/S0952836902003060
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11810/3232
dc.languageen
dc.subjectViviparity
dc.subjectReproduction
dc.subjectAfrica
dc.subjectCaecilians
dc.subjectMorphology
dc.subjectScolecomorphus vittatus
dc.titleA remarkable young Scolecomorphus vittatus (Amphibia: Gymnophiona Scolecomorphidae) from the North Pare Mountains, Tanzania
dc.typeJournal Article, Peer Reviewed

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Department of Zoology and Wildlife Conservation