caecilian

cae·cil·ian

C0015100 (sə-sĭl′yən, -sĭl′ē-ən, -sēl′-)n. Any of various legless, burrowing amphibians of the order Gymnophiona, having numerous grooved rings encircling the body, and found chiefly in tropical regions.

[From Latin caecilia, a kind of lizard, from caecus, blind (from its small eyes).]

caecilian

(siːˈsɪlɪən) n (Animals) any tropical limbless cylindrical amphibian of the order Apoda (or Gymnophiona), resembling earthworms and inhabiting moist soil[C19: from Latin caecilia a kind of lizard, from caecus blind]

cae•cil•i•an

(siˈsɪl i ən)

n. a wormlike, burrowing tropical amphibian of the order Gymnophiona. [1875–80; < Latin caecili(a) blindworm]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	caecilian - any of the small slender limbless burrowing wormlike amphibians of the order Gymnophiona; inhabit moist soil in tropical regionsblindwormamphibian - cold-blooded vertebrate typically living on land but breeding in water; aquatic larvae undergo metamorphosis into adult formCaeciliadae, Caeciliidae, family Caeciliadae, family Caeciliidae - coextensive with the order Gymnophiona: legless amphibians
Adj.	1.	caecilian - of or relating to or belonging to the family Caeciliidae

caecilian

enUK

caecilian

(sēsĭl`ēən), any of the legless, tailless tropical amphibiansamphibian,
in zoology, cold-blooded vertebrate animal of the class Amphibia. There are three living orders of amphibians: the frogs and toads (order Anura, or Salientia), the salamanders and newts (order Urodela, or Caudata), and the caecilians, or limbless amphibians (order
..... Click the link for more information. belonging to the order Gymnophiona (or Apoda). Most adult caecilians resemble earthworms superficially but have vertebrate characteristics such as jaws and teeth.

Caecilians range in size from 7 in. to 4.5 ft (18 cm–140 cm); most are about 1 ft (30 cm) long. Their bodies are ringed with grooves, which in some species contain small scales imbedded in the skin; possession of scales is a primitive amphibian trait. There is a groove on either side of the head, each containing a retractable sensory tentacle. The eyes of caecilians are nearly functionless, and some species are eyeless.

Caecilians are found in swampy places in most tropical parts of the world, but are seldom seen because of their burrowing behavior. They eat small invertebrates such as termites and earthworms. A few species remain aquatic as adults and resemble eels.

There are more than 180 species of caecilians, divided into 10 families. They are classified in the phylum ChordataChordata
, phylum of animals having a notochord, or dorsal stiffening rod, as the chief internal skeletal support at some stage of their development. Most chordates are vertebrates (animals with backbones), but the phylum also includes some small marine invertebrate animals.
..... Click the link for more information. , subphylum Vertebrata, class Amphibia, order Gymnophiona (or Apoda).

caecilian

[sē′sil·yən] (vertebrate zoology) The common name for members of the amphibian order Apoda.

caecilian

cae·cil·ian

caecilian

cae•cil•i•an

caecilian

caecilian

caecilian

caecilian

Synonyms for caecilian

noun any of the small slender limbless burrowing wormlike amphibians of the order Gymnophiona

Synonyms

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