Buried-Eyed Caecilians: Scolecomorphidae

Buried-eyed caecilians live in Cameroon in the west of Africa and Malawi and Tanzania in the east of Africa. No caecilians of any kind have been found in central Africa. This distribution pattern is odd, because the vast region of the upper Congo seems ideally suited for caecilians. Caecilians probably live in central Africa but just have not been found.

Buried-eyed caecilians live in tropical rainforests and areas that have been cleared of trees, usually in hilly or mountainous regions. These animals usually are found in moist areas under logs and in leaf litter on the forest floor. They sometimes are dug up from moist soil. In Tanzania and Malawi, buried-eyed caecilians have been found in turned soil and in piles of old plant matter on farms.

Scientists believe buried-eyed caecilians eat earthworms and insects. In captivity they eat earthworms and small crickets.

Buried-eyed caecilians have no known importance to people.

Buried-eyed caecilians are not considered threatened or endangered.