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Ringed Caecilian
Siphonops annulatus
A spectacular ringed caecilian, featuring a glossy bluish-black body marked by high-contrast white rings. A unique, subterranean, and fully terrestrial amphibian.
Class:Amphibia
Order:Gymnophiona
Family:Siphonopidae
Genus:Siphonops
Species:Siphonops annulatus
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Environment
Terrestrial
Humidity
80 - 100 %
Day temperature
25 - 30 °C
Night temperature
22 - 24 °C
Ambient temperature
25 - 30 °C
Minimum enclosure
>= 45 L
UVB
Low
Species description
Geographical Origin and Habitat: Native to the South American rainforests, Cerrado, and humid lowlands (including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and northern Argentina). They lead a strictly subterranean, burrowing life in deep organic soils.
Taxonomy and Genetics: Belonging to the order Gymnophiona (caecilians). Siphonops annulatus is famous for its unique parental care, where hatchlings feed on the outer layer of the mother's specialized skin (maternal dermatophagy).
Behavior and Habits: Strictly nocturnal and fossorial. They spend their entire lives buried in soil. Virtually blind and deaf, they hunt worms, termites, and other soil invertebrates using sensory tentacles near their snout.
Morphology: Reaches 25–45 cm in length. Both sexes look identical externally. Gravid females become visibly broader and heavier before egg-laying.
Care, breeding and tankmates
Terrarium Setup: A low horizontal enclosure (minimum 60x45x30 cm) is suitable. A very deep burrowing substrate layer (minimum 15–20 cm) composed of damp organic soil, peat moss, and coco fiber is mandatory. Do not provide a water dish, as they cannot swim and will drown.
Lighting and Heating: Keep substrate temperatures stable at 25–30°C. Use a side-mounted heat mat (never put it under the terrarium, as burrowing animals can overheat). Allow a night drop to 22–24°C. No direct light is needed; keep in shaded or dark conditions.
Humidity and Hydration: Keep humidity levels high at 80–100%. Water the soil regularly with dechlorinated water to keep it moist but not soggy or stagnant, which causes bacterial buildup.
Feeding and Supplementation: Strictly carnivorous. Feed primarily on live earthworms (their essential diet), soft insect larvae, and small roaches. Dust food with calcium and multivitamin supplements twice a week.
Compatibility: Peaceful and gregarious with conspecifics. Can be housed in groups in deep, spacious enclosures. Do not mix with other reptile or amphibian species.
Health and Common Diseases: Highly sensitive to chemicals, copper, and pesticides. Poor soil hygiene and waste accumulation lead to rapid, fatal skin infections and rot. Handle only when strictly necessary, using wet, powder-free gloves.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Native to the South American rainforests, Cerrado, and humid lowlands (including Brazil, Peru, Colombia, and northern Argentina). They lead a strictly subterranean, burrowing life in deep organic soils.
Origin
Amazon, Orinoco, and Guianas
Amphibian profile
- Diet
- No verified data available
- Life expectancy
- No verified data available
- Adult size
- 45.4 cm
- Lifestyle/Microhabitat
- No verified data available
- Activity cycle
- No verified data available
- Sociality
- No verified data available
- Reproduction
- No verified data available
- Toxicity
- No verified data available
- Life stage
- No verified data available
- Handling tolerance
- No verified data available
- Brumation
- No verified data available
- Molting
- No verified data available
The catalog's scalar value is 45.4 cm. The AmphiBIO v1 source reports a maximum adult measurement of 45.4 cm for this species, recorded as total length (TL). These figures are not interchangeable: the first is the profile's editorial reference, whereas the second is a published maximum under a specific measurement convention; differences among sources can reflect sex, population, life stage and measuring method.
Image gallery
Licensed images linked to the species or, when marked, to the closest representative taxon.
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