From: Ann Mansker 
Subject: Critter of the Week: Scolecomorphus kirkii
Date: 15 Sep 1998 01:25:42 GMT
Newsgroups: ucd.life

Scolecomorphus kirkii is one of about 160 species of caecilians, the least
known of the amphibians.  All caecilians are completely legless, which
accounts for many of their common names, such as "blindworm" and "rubber
eel."  Though many species strongly resemble earthworms, caecilians are
vertebrates, and all are carnivorous.  They are the least studied and
least-understood among the amphibians; their taxonomy and morphology is
still require further elaboration.

Aside from their snakelike form, caecilians are extremely variable.  They
range in size from a few inches to over four feet.  Some have tails, some
do not.  Some have scales, which is unique among the amphibians.  The eyes
of some species are covered by the bones of their skulls, but one species
can extend its eyes out of the sockets on stalks, the only vertebrate with
this capability.  Most have sensory tentacles that help make up for lack
of vision.  One family is aquatic, while the rest are terrestrial
burrowers.  All are tropical.

On occasion, caecilians are available for sale where tropical fish are
sold, under the name of black eel or rubber eel.  They are capable of
catching and eating small fish, however, so careful choice of tank
companions is important.

Scolecomorphus kirkii is the signature species for this article due to a
characteristic that is detailed in the last paragraph of this article:
http://www.nature.com/Nature2/serve?SID=98829654&CAT=Corner&PG=Update/update065.html

There are images and brief descriptions of several species at 
http://www.oit.itd.umich.edu:80/bio108/Chordata/Lissamphibia/Gymnophiona.shtml