Page 154 - An Anthology of Intriguing Animals (DK)
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Caecilian
Y ou would be forgiven for thinking this
was an earthworm, but a jaw full of curved
teeth makes this a caecilian (suh-sill-yun). They are
amphibians, like frogs and newts. Few people see
these weird animals because they are found either
burrowing below the soil or swimming around
like wiggly eels.
Caecilians don’t have arms or legs. They can’t see very
well—some have no eyes—and they feel and smell their way
around. Some caecilians lay eggs, but others, such as the Veragua
caecilian, give birth to miniature versions of themselves. A few mother
caecilians offer their babies a very strange treat: their own skin!
The babies nibble bits off, then wait for it to regrow.
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