Schistometopum gregorii

Schistometopum gregorii

Witu caecilian, Mud-dwelling caecilian, Flood-plain-dwelling caecilian

Kingdom
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SPECIES
Schistometopum gregorii

Schistometopum gregorii, also known as Witu caecilian, mud-dwelling caecilian, and flood-plain-dwelling caecilian, is a species of amphibian in the family Dermophiidae from East Africa.

Animal name origin

The specific name gregorii honours John Walter Gregory, a British geologist and explorer and the collector of the holotype.

Appearance

Schistometopum gregorii is glossy black dorsolaterally and somewhat lighter ventrally. There are 110–119 primary annuli (ring-shaped folds). Kenyan males measure 141–336 mm (5.6–13.2 in) (mean 247 mm) and females 152–350 mm (6.0–13.8 in) (mean 260 mm) in total length.

Distribution

Geography

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Biogeographical realms

Schistometopum gregorii is endemic to the coastal East Africa in Kenya and Tanzania; it is known from the Tana River Delta area in Kenya (its type locality) and between Bagamoyo and Rufiji River in Tanzania. It is possible that the Kenyan and Tanzanian populations are distinct species.

References

1. Schistometopum gregorii Wikipedia article - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schistometopum_gregorii
2. Schistometopum gregorii on The IUCN Red List site - https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/59591/16958275

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