Taxonomy

Species ID	020010
Name	Mexican caecilian
Other Common Names
Category	02 Amphibians
Phylum
Subphylum
Class	Amphibia
Subclass
Suborder
Family	Caeciliaidae
Genus	Dermophis
Species	mexicanus
Subspecies
Scientific Synonyms	Siphonops mexicanus, Dumeril and Bibron, 1841.

Comments

2* Taylor (1968) recognized two subspecies of D. mexicanus the nominate subspecies and D. m. clarkii either of which might occur in the Yucat n Peninsula. Savage and Wake (1972), however, declined to recognize subspecies, owing to their analysis of morphological variation throughout the range of the species.

Status

Status Code	Status Translation	References
40	Northern Middle American Endemic	01

Distribution

Habitat Associations

Food Habits

Trophic

CARNIVORE

References on Trophic Level

2

Lifestage	Food Item Consumed	Part of Food Item
Adult	Annelids	Adult stage

Comments on Adult Food Habits

2* Dermophis mexicanus feeds predominantly on earthworms, and local population densities may be influenced by the worms' distribution and abundance (M. H. Wake, 1980:245).

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers
General	2

Environmental Associations

References/Lifestage	Reference Numbers

Life History

Life History Narrative

Natural History: This burrowing amphibian commonly occurs in loose moist soil, beneath surface litter, in the soil of stream banks, and beneath rotting logs. Individuals have also been found under banana leaves, coffee hulls, and garbage piles, and in piles of old stable manure. Dermophis mexicanus feeds predominantly on earthworms, and local population densities may be influenced by the worms' distribution and abundance (M. H. Wake, 1980:245). E. O. Moll and Smith (1967:1) reported a lizard, Ameiva undulata, in the stomach of D. mexicanus. Dermophis mexicanus is viviparous. After examining specimens from northwestern Guatemala, M. H. Wake (1980) concluded that gametogenesis begins at about one year of age in both sexes, although males may not reproduce until they are two years old, whereas females may breed at the beginning of their second year. Copulation apparently occurs in May and June. The gestation period is about one year, and parturition occurs the following May and June. The brood size ranges from 4 to 12, with a mean of 7. Thurow and Gould (1977:234-235) reported sounds produced by this species (as D. septentrionalis) as consisting of soft yelps, squawks, or squeaks. They also described an almost inaudible soft, lip-smacking sound as well as a series of soft clicks. They suggested that the clicks may aid in orientation but were unable to determine how the sounds are produced.

Life History References

2

Management Practices

References/Result	Reference Numbers

References

1  Meerman, J., 1994. Summary of Herpetofauna Distributions in Belize.
   Report to National Protected Areas Management Project.

2  Lee, Julian C. 1996. The Amphibians and Reptiles of the Yucatan
   Peninsula. Comstock Publishing Associates. Ithaca, New York.