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Caecilian Literature
 The information on this page is sparse because books dealing specifically
with caecilians are perhaps rarer than caecilians themselves! One will
usually only find general herpetology texts that briefly describe
caecilians. Several scientific papers dealing exclusively with
caecilians are available in paperback form and will be included here
when available. Books which deal with herpetology or pet care in general
will only be reviewed as to their caecilian content.
If you'd like to provide a book review, please send it to
admin@gymnophiona.org
R.D. Bartlett
and Patricia Bartlett "Reptiles and Amphibians of the Amazon",
2003, University press of Florida.
A field guide to commonly
encountered amphibians and reptiles of the Amazon, this book is geared
for the average ecotourist and covers 3 caecilian species: Oscaecilia
bassleri, Siphonops annulatus, and Typhlonectes
compressicauda. The information is as in-depth as possible for a
field guide like this (see the Siphonops account) and the photos
are top-notch. A highlight, in my opinion, is the photo of a true
Typhlonectes compressicauda.
Johnathan A.
Campbell "Amphibians and Reptiles of Northern Guatemala, the Yucatán,
and Belize", 1998, University of Oklahoma Press.
John Campbell always puts out
first-rate material with fun and interesting anecdotes, and this is no
different. Though the geographical area encompassed by this book covers
only 2 species of caecilians, Dermophis mexicanus and Gymnopis
syntrema, his explanation for the local names of caecilians (tapalcua)
is almost worth the cost alone! Solid information on two species of
caecilians for which little information exists.
R.S. Pillai and
M.S. Ravichandrian "Gymnophiona (Amphibia) of India: A Taxonomic
Study", 1999, Zoological Survey of India Kolkata.
The authors set about to review the
known caecilians of India and describe several new species in the
process. The result is a 126 page effort containing detailed keys and
characteristics for all known Indian caecilians and range maps. Some
intriguing color photos of preserved specimens are provided, as well as
numerous black and white drawings and range maps. Tables of
morphometrics are also provided when available. Natural history
information is naturally scant (for obvious reasons!) but there are some
surprising anecdotes on the authors' natural observations of some
species, particularly Ichthyophis.
Jay M. Savage "Amphibians
and Reptiles of Costa Rica", 2002, University of Chicago Press.
This book really goes beyond the
brief mention of caecilians that most books dealing with the
herpetofauna of a specific geographic area are usually satisfied with.
As good of a source for information on Dermophis costaricense,
Dermophis gracilior, Dermophis parviceps, and Oscaecilia osae
as you are likely to find with beautiful photos as well. Unfortunately,
the photo of Oscaecilia is of a dead, desiccated specimen from a
roadside, but that's nitpicking.
Margaret Stewart
"Amphibians of Malawi", 1967, University of new York Press.
One of the only sources for
information on Scolecomorphus kirkii I've ever come across. The
information is scant for obvious reasons, but the field anecdotes are
interesting. It might be worth picking up if you can find it cheap.
Edward Taylor "The
Caecilians of the World: A Taxonomic Review", 1968, University of
Kansas Press.
Certainly the largest (848 pages!)
and most comprehensive work on caecilians ever written, this book is
becoming increasingly rare and any caecilian enthusiast should snatch it
up should they come across it. Purely academic in nature, Taylor focuses
on the taxonomy of the known caecilians of his time and provides keys to
the identification from the family to the species level. The photographs
are all black and white and of preserved specimens that you are unlikely
to find anywhere else. Also included are numerous, detailed
morphological drawings of teeth, skeletal structures, cloacae, etc. as
well as tables of detailed morphometrics. Natural history or ecological
information is absent or sparse throughout the text and only briefly
mentioned in the introduction. Though the taxonomy is now largely
outdated, and many flaws and mistakes have been found since its
publication, the information given is often still the best possible
information available if you have an unknown caecilian which needs
identification. A must have!***Photo Credits: Rio Cauca Caecilian (Typhlonectes
natans). Copyright © 2005 Nate Nelson |
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