Rooting one's nose

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Rooting one's nose
Epicrionops sp.

Epicrionops sp.

Systematics
Sub-stem : Vertebrates (vertebrata)
Superclass : Jaw mouths (Gnathostomata)
Row : Land vertebrates (Tetrapoda)
without rank: Amphibians (Lissamphibia)
Order : Sneak amphibian (Gymnophiona)
Family : Rooting one's nose
Scientific name
Rhinatrematidae
Walnut , 1977

The nasal burrows (Rhinatrematidae) are a family of the sneak amphibians (Gymnophiona) that occurs in tropical South America.

features

Nasal burrows become 16 to 33 centimeters long. Most species are solid gray to purple in color and are relatively thick compared to their length. Rhinatrema bivittatum has yellow stripes on the flanks and is slender. The yellow side stripes are also found in some Epicrionops species. Nasal burrows have numerous skull bones and open skull windows. The mouth opening is terminal. The nasal and intermaxillary bones are separate. These traits indicate that they are not highly adapted to their digging way of life. The double jaw locking mechanism typical of sneak amphibians, in which, in addition to the jaw adductor, a second pair of muscles for the lower jaw leads to the upper jaw, is available, but designed in a simpler manner. The eyes are relatively large and close to the tentacles.

The body of the nasal burrows is curled by circumferential skin folds (annuli), which in turn are divided into secondary and tertiary annuli. Compared to more advanced sneak families, they have numerous scales. There is a tail, the spine extends beyond the cloaca .

Way of life

Nose burrows live in the rotting foliage covered soil of tropical forests in which they also lay their eggs. The larvae are aquatic and have a gill opening .

Systematics

Nose-rooting are considered the most original sneak family and are compared to all others as a sister group (see the cladogram in the article Sneaking amphibians ).

Genera and species

There are two genera Crotaphatrema with nine species:

literature

  • Werner Himstedt: The blind diggers . ISBN 3894324341
  • Wilfried Westheide & Reinhard Rieger: Special Zoology Part 2: Vertebrae and Skull Animals , 1st edition, Spectrum Akademischer Verlag Heidelberg • Berlin, 2004, ISBN 3-8274-0307-3
  • K. Deckert, Gisela Deckert , GE Freytag, G. Peters, G. Sterba: Urania animal kingdom, fish, amphibians, reptiles. Urania-Verlag, 1991, ISBN 3-332-00376-3 .

Web links

Commons : Rhinatrematidae  - Collection of images, videos and audio files