Skip to main content

Wildlife Guide · Africa & Asia

Caecilian

Gymnophiona

The limbless, burrowing amphibians

IUCN: Least Concern
Smooth limbless caecilian resembling a large earthworm crawling across damp soil

Image: Photo: Brian Gratwicke from DC, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 2.0)

In brief

Caecilians are a group of limbless, worm-like amphibians that live mostly hidden in damp soil and leaf litter across the tropics of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They range from a few centimeters to over 1.5 m (5 ft) long, have tiny or skin-covered eyes, and rely on a pair of sensory tentacles to find prey underground.

By the WARN Research & Conservation TeamChecked against IUCN Red List & CITES sourcesLast updated

Caecilians are a group of limbless, worm-like amphibians that live mostly hidden in damp soil and leaf litter across the tropics of Africa, Asia, and the Americas. They range from a few centimeters to over 1.5 m (5 ft) long, have tiny or skin-covered eyes, and rely on a pair of sensory tentacles to find prey underground. Long-lived for amphibians, some caecilians survive well over a decade.

0.4 m

Typical length

100 g

Typical weight

2 km/h

Top speed

12 yrs

Lifespan

Figures sourced from Wikipedia — Caecilian, Wikidata — Caecilian .

Caecilian: Quick Facts

Vital statistics and key facts about the Caecilian
Scientific name Gymnophiona
Diet Carnivore (worms, insects, small invertebrates)
Habitat Damp soil and leaf litter in the tropics
Lifespan Often more than a decade
Length From a few cm up to 1.5 m (5 ft)
Conservation status Varies by species

Scientific Classification

Scientific classification of the Caecilian
Kingdom Animalia
Phylum Chordata
Class Amphibia
Order Gymnophiona

Conservation Status

IUCN Status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List category)
Population
Global population not compiled for this guide
Trend
See the IUCN Red List assessment
Assessed
See the IUCN Red List assessment
CITES
See CITES appendices

Conservation figures are drawn from the IUCN Red List and CITES; this guide links to the authoritative sources rather than restating population counts.

Key Facts: Caecilian

  • Caecilians are secretive amphibians that spend most of their lives burrowing through moist soil and leaf litter, and a few species are fully aquatic.
  • Caecilians are carnivores that eat earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates found underground.
  • As a group, caecilians live across the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, with none in most temperate regions.

Behavior and senses

Caecilians are secretive amphibians that spend most of their lives burrowing through moist soil and leaf litter, and a few species are fully aquatic. With no limbs, they move like worms or snakes, pushing through the ground with a strong, muscular body. Their eyes are tiny and often covered by skin or bone, so they navigate using a unique pair of retractable tentacles between the eyes and nostrils that detect chemicals and prey.

Diet and feeding

Caecilians are carnivores that eat earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates found underground. They seize prey with strong jaws lined with backward-curving teeth and may spin to subdue it. Their underground lifestyle keeps them close to a steady supply of soil-dwelling animals.

Habitat and range

As a group, caecilians live across the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, with none in most temperate regions. They favor warm, damp environments such as rainforest soil, riverbanks, and leaf litter. Because they live hidden underground or in water, they are rarely seen and remain among the least-known amphibians.

Reproduction and conservation

Caecilians have remarkable reproduction: some lay eggs while others give birth to live young, and in several species the young feed on a special layer of their mother's skin. As a diverse group their conservation status varies by species, with many too poorly known to assess, while some face threats from habitat loss. Their secretive habits mean scientists are still discovering new kinds.

What WARN Does

WARN does not run a dedicated caecilian programme — this guide is part of the World Animal Rescue Network's free educational library. The caecilian is currently widespread and not globally threatened, and this guide helps readers understand the pressures that can change that. Building public understanding of species like the caecilian supports the broader conservation awareness that underpins WARN's partner-led rescue work across its network.

If clear, science-based wildlife guides like this help you understand and value animals, please consider supporting the World Animal Rescue Network's educational and rescue work so we can keep producing them.

Donate to WARN

Caecilian: Frequently Asked Questions

What is a caecilian?
A caecilian is a limbless, worm-like amphibian that lives mostly underground in damp tropical soil. Despite looking like worms or snakes, caecilians are amphibians, related to frogs and salamanders.

Are caecilians worms or snakes?
Neither. Caecilians are amphibians that have evolved a long, limbless body for burrowing, which makes them resemble large earthworms or snakes, but they are not closely related to either.

What do caecilians eat?
Caecilians are carnivores that eat earthworms, termites, insect larvae, and other small invertebrates they encounter in the soil, gripping prey with strong, toothed jaws.

Can caecilians see?
Only poorly. Their eyes are tiny and often covered by skin or bone, so instead of relying on sight they use a special pair of tentacles to sense chemicals and locate prey in the dark.

Where do caecilians live?
They live in the wet tropics of Africa, Asia, and Central and South America, in damp soil, leaf litter, and riverbanks, where they stay hidden most of the time.

Do caecilians care for their young?
Yes, in some species. The young of certain caecilians feed on a nutrient-rich outer layer of their mother's skin, an unusual form of parental care among amphibians.

Are caecilians dangerous?
Caecilians are not dangerous to people. They are secretive burrowers with strong toothed jaws used to grip worms and insect larvae underground, and they rarely encounter humans.

How long do caecilians live?
Caecilians are long-lived for amphibians, often surviving well over a decade. This guide records a typical lifespan of about 12 years, though exact longevity varies by species.

How big is a caecilian?
Caecilians range from a few centimetres to over 1.5 m (5 ft) long. This guide records a typical length of about 0.4 m and weight of roughly 100 g, though the largest species far exceed that.

Sources & References

Population figures, conservation status and biological facts on this page are drawn from authoritative scientific and intergovernmental sources.

Terms used on this page

Plain-English definitions, from our wildlife and conservation glossary.

Latest Caecilian Stories

Quick, fact-checked reads on the caecilian — amazing facts, key questions and the threats it faces.

Species

Slow Loris: Why the Internet's Favourite Pet Is a Conservation Disaster

The slow loris looks like a cartoon character — and that has nearly destroyed the species. Here is the truth behind the viral videos.

Read the story

Species

The Snow Leopard: Why the Ghost of the Mountains Is Still Vulnerable

The snow leopard is one of the most elusive big cats on earth, with an estimated 4,000-6,500 individuals across twelve range states — including Pakistan, where WARN is preparing to operate. This briefing explains why the species was downlisted from Endangered to Vulnerable in 2017 and why that is not the success story it sounds like.

Read the story

Guides

Sun Bear vs Moon Bear: The Two Most Trafficked Asian Bears

The sun bear and the Asiatic black bear (moon bear) are the two most commonly trafficked bears in Asia — for the pet trade, for traditional medicine and for bear-bile farming. Here is how to tell them apart.

Read the story

Explore More Species

Every animal in our network faces a crisis. Learn about the others.

View all wildlife guides
Donate