Boulengerula taitana

Boulengerula taitana
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Herpelidae
Genus: Boulengerula
Species:
B. taitana
Binomial name
Boulengerula taitana
Loveridge, 1935
Range highlighted in blue
Synonyms[2]
  • Boulengerula taitanus (Loveridge, 1935)
  • Afrocaecilia taitana (Loveridge, 1935)

Boulengerula taitana (common names: Taita African caecilian, Taita Hills caecilian, Taita Mountains caecilian) is a species of caecilian. It is endemic to the Taita Hills region of southeast Kenya.[3] Boulengerula taitana are unique caecilians in appearance, fertilization type, and parental care. From their similar shape and presentation to worms, and their internalized fertilization, they set themselves apart from many other amphibians. D. taitana interactions between mothers and newly hatched young are unique in that the mother uses her own skin as a food resource for offspring. This species also has physiological adaptations in place to increase oxygen uptake and affinity to fit their underground lifestyle. The Boulengerula taitana differentiates itself from its close relatives in ways rarely documented and researched before.

  1. ^ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2013). "Boulengerula taitana". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2013: e.T59498A16944134. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2013-2.RLTS.T59498A16944134.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
  2. ^ Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Boulengerula taitana Loveridge, 1935". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 22 May 2018.
  3. ^ IUCN (2013-07-02). "Boulengerula taitana: IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group: The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2013: e.T59498A16944134". doi:10.2305/iucn.uk.2013-2.rlts.t59498a16944134.en. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)