Herpele – Congo caecilians

Unlike frogs or salamanders, caecilians are legless, worm-like amphibians that spend most of their lives underground or hidden in leaf litter, making them rarely seen and poorly understood. Found in parts of Central and West Africa, these creatures look more like large earthworms or snakes than typical amphibians, with long, smooth, segmented bodies that help them easily slither through soil.

While many amphibians lay eggs and leave, female Congo caecilians stay with their hatchlings and provide them with a special kind of food: their skin. The mother grows an extra, nutrient-rich outer layer, and the babies peel it off and eat it with specially adapted little teeth. This behavior, called dermatophagy, is rare in the animal kingdom and highlights just how unique these hidden amphibians are. It’s like nature’s version of “skin-snack parenting,” a strategy that helps their young survive in the dark, underground world they call home.

Unlike frogs that call loudly or salamanders that creep around streams, caecilians like Herpele are silent burrowers, living secret lives under the soil. Their small eyes are often covered with skin, since sight is less important underground, but they have excellent senses of smell and touch to help them navigate. Their skin contains ring-like grooves, giving them a segmented look, and their heads are strong and pointed, perfect for digging. They thrive in moist soil, especially in forests, where they feed on insects, earthworms, and other invertebrates.

Their secretive lifestyle makes spotting one in the wild an exciting event for scientists and nature lovers. And their parenting behavior is so unusual that they’ve been called “skin-feeding moms”, a title that might sound odd but highlights how unique they are among amphibians.