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    Ichthyophiidae – Fish caecilians

    Also named Asiatic tailed caecilians are a primitive family, and the only caecilians with true tails & scales on their bodies

    The majority of these caecilians are adept burrowers living underground in a network of tunnels. These animals dig in soft earth using their hard, thick, sharp skull. They have little need to see or hear because of their underground lifestyle. As a result, some have tiny eyes, while others have eyes hidden beneath the skin or skull, leaving only grey lumps for eyes.

    The young caecilians stay with their mother for several weeks after birth. She develops a thick outer layer of skin that is rich in fat and other nutrients throughout this time. Her babies eat her skin by peeling it off with their modified teeth.