Herpele

Herpele
Herpele squalostoma, female with her young
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Herpelidae
Genus: Herpele
Peters, 1880
Type species
Caecilia squalostoma
Species

See text

Herpele is a genus of caecilians in the family Herpelidae. They are endemic to Central and Western Africa (from southeastern Nigeria east to western Central African Republic and south to western Democratic Republic of the Congo, possibly to Angola).[1]

At least Herpele squalostoma is probably oviparous and provides parental care: the young feed on their mother's skin (they are "dermatophagous").[2]

Species

There are two recognized species:[1]

Binomial name and authority Common name
Herpele multiplicata Nieden, 1912 Victoria caecilian
Herpele squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836) Congo caecilian

References

  1. ^ a b Frost, Darrel R. (2013). "Herpele Peters, 1880". Amphibian Species of the World 5.6, an Online Reference. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 13 January 2014.
  2. ^ Kouete, M. T.; Wilkinson, M.; Gower, D. J. (2012). "First reproductive observations for Herpele Peters, 1880 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Herpelidae): evidence of extended parental care and maternal dermatophagy in H. squalostoma (Stutchbury, 1836)". ISRN Zoology. 2012: 269690. doi:10.5402/2012/269690.


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