''Dermophis occidentalis'' is a species of

caecilian Caecilians (; ) are a group of limbless, vermiform (worm-shaped) or serpentine (snake-shaped) amphibians with small or sometimes nonexistent eyes. They mostly live hidden in soil or in streambeds, and this cryptic lifestyle renders caecilians ...

in the family

Dermophiidae The Dermophiidae are a family of neotropical caecilians. They are found in Central and South America, and Africa. Like other caecilians, they superficially resemble worms or snakes. They are the only viviparous caecilians (species that give bi ...

. It is

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to south-western

Costa Rica Costa Rica, officially the Republic of Costa Rica, is a country in Central America. It borders Nicaragua to the north, the Caribbean Sea to the northeast, Panama to the southeast, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, as well as Maritime bo ...

and occurs in the Pacific lowlands and premontane slopes, extending to the western part of the central valley. Its taxonomic status is unclear.

Description

''Dermophis occidentalis'' is a small-sized caecilian measuring in total length. It has 95–112 primary and 29–37 secondary annuli. The body is slender, with its length 30 to 32 times the body width.). The head is narrow and light grayish tan in color. The body is dorsally lavender plumbeous, turning lighter ventrally.

Habitat and conservation

''Dermophis occidentalis'' occurs in lowland and submontane rainforests at elevations of

above sea level Height above mean sea level is a measure of a location's vertical distance (height, elevation or altitude) in reference to a vertical datum based on a historic mean sea level. In geodesy, it is formalized as orthometric height. The zero level ...

. It is a subterranean species that can be found under logs and in leaf litter. It is

viviparous In animals, viviparity is development of the embryo inside the body of the mother, with the maternal circulation providing for the metabolic needs of the embryo's development, until the mother gives birth to a fully or partially developed juve ...

. ''Dermophis occidentalis'' is a poorly known species. Deforestation might be a threat to it. Its range overlaps with the

Corcovado National Park Corcovado National Park () is a National Park on the Osa Peninsula, in Osa (canton), Osa Canton, located on the southwestern regions of Costa Rica (9° North, 83° West), which is a part of the Osa Conservation Area. Corcovado National Park was ...

, among others.

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q1941540 occidentalis Amphibians of Costa Rica Endemic fauna of Costa Rica Taxa named by Edward Harrison Taylor Amphibians described in 1955 Taxonomy articles created by Polbot