| Chikilidae | |
|---|---|
._A._Lateral%2c_B._Dorsal_view_of_head%2c_C._Ventral_view_of_head%2c_D._Lateral_view_of_head%2c_E._Dorsal_view_of_body_terminus%2c_F._Ventral_view_of_body_terminus%2c_G._Lateral_vi.png) | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Gymnophiona |
| Clade: | Apoda |
| Family: | Chikilidae Kamei et al. (2012) |
| Genera | |
Chikilidae is a family ofIndian caecilians, the 10th and most recent (2012) family ofcaecilians (leglessamphibians) to be identified, although the type species,Chikila fulleri (formerlyHerpele fulleri) was first described in 1904.[1] The discovery that this was a separate lineage resulted from genetic analyses of specimens collected during about 250 soil-digging expeditions over five years that covered everyNortheast Indian state.[2] A team of biologists led byUniversity of DelhiherpetologistSathyabhama Das Biju described the family as representing as many as seven species apparently endemic to the region.[1] In September 2012, some of these species were also found inLawachara National Park in theSylhet region of northeasternBangladesh.[3] The family's lineage is believed to have originated inAfrica, where their closest living relatives are found.[4]
Chikilids grow to about 4 in (10 cm) in length.[5] They have very limited eyesight and skulls adapted for burrowing.[2] Their eggs hatch into adultcaecilians, with no larval stage in between. The mothers stay wrapped around their developing eggs for two to three months, apparently not eating at all during this period.
Until this discovery, only nine families of caecilians were known from across the wet tropical regions ofSoutheast Asia,India,Sri Lanka, parts ofEast andWest Africa, theSeychelles,Central America and northern and eastern parts ofSouth America.[6] From morphological andDNA analyses, the researchers concluded the new family had evolved independently of other caecilians since the time of thedinosaurs.[1]
