Mexican Caecilian (Dermophis mexicanus)

Common Name: Mexican Caecilian
Scientific Name: Dermophis mexicanus
Family: Dermophiidae
Location: El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, and Nicaragua
Size: around 2 feet, 60 cm

The Mexican Caecilian is one of the larger caecilians in the world. Though it’s named the Mexican Caecilian, its found pretty much all over Central America. Like most caecilians, it’s found burrowing beneath the surface but it does come up at night to hunt if there’s rain.

Not much is known about the caecilian’s mating habits. We know that they use internal fertilization (all caecilians do) and that they reach sexual maturity around 2 to 3 years old. They are viviparous, meaning they give birth to live young. The young are pretty large, around 4 inches long.

The Mexican Caecilian is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN. Habitat destruction is the main reason for their decline in numbers.