Tailless Caecilians: Caeciliidae

Tailless caecilians live in tropical forests and grasslands and on stream banks. Land-dwelling tailless caecilians live in loose, moist, soil rich in decayed plant matter and leaf litter. They are often found under rocks, logs, and waste material, such as piles of coffee hulls. Many of these caecilians are found near streams. Some tailless caecilians live in grassland, and scientists find them by rolling the grass layer away from the soil. Tailless caecilians that live in water for part or all of their life cycle live on the banks of streams and rivers and sometimes travel onto nearby land or farther out into slow-moving water. Water-dwelling tailless caecilians hide under hanging branches, logs, and other floating objects.