Siphonops annulatus

Ringelwühle ( Siphonops annulatus )

The Ringelwühle ( Siphonops annulatus ) is a subterranean living species of caecilians ( caecilians; Gymnophiona ) that is found in South America. It operates a cannibalistic form of parental care by the boys eat off the skin of the mother animal.

This belongs to the amphibian species is not to be confused with reptiles of the genus Blanus that are misleadingly sometimes also referred to as " marigold rooting ".

Features

Figures 20 to 40 centimeters long Ringelwühle has a worm or snake-like elongated limbs loose body, which is relatively short stocky for caecilians. The color is a dark blue, with the fuselage by numerous white cross bands ( rings ) is divided.

Occurrence of life

The Ringelwühle lives completely terrestrial in northern South America east of the Andes, usually in areas below 800 m above sea level. Regional it still happens quite often; in Argentina whose territory they achieved only in the extreme northeast, the type, however, is considered endangered. The nocturnal animal feeds on earthworms and other invertebrates. In case of danger, it secretes a foul- tasting secretion.

Reproduction, brood care

Eggs are laid in the ground for propagation; the young hatch fully developed. In this type so there is a direct development without aquatiles larval stage. The hatchlings feed on first two months of the skin of her mother by tear with their jaws skin parts. The skin regenerates itself and is then eaten again by the boys. It was not until about 15 centimeters body length leaves the young mother. Those remains emaciated and needs to recover from this extreme form of parental care. This may explain why the animals probably reproduce only every two years.

During the breeding season, fats and proteins are embedded in the skin of the mother. This will increase the cells, and the abundance of nutrients to the skin increases significantly. Over a period of two months this Nährhaut is then washed twice " grazed " a week from 8 to 16 pups.

From the condition of the teeth of the young ringed rooting is concluded that it might be in the way and their behavior around an evolutionary precursor to other viviparous caecilians. In such, it is typical that feed the larvae hatching in the womb boys especially of cell material of Eileiterwandung.