Herpele multiplicata

Herpele multiplicata is a species of caecilian in the family Herpelidae. It is endemic to Cameroon. It is only known from its holotype, which is now lost.[1][2][3] The only available information is the brief species description published in 1912 by Fritz Nieden.[3] Common name Victoria caecilian has been coined for it.[1][2]

Herpele multiplicata
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Amphibia
Order: Gymnophiona
Clade: Apoda
Family: Herpelidae
Genus: Herpele
Species:
H. multiplicata
Binomial name
Herpele multiplicata
Nieden, 1912

Type locality

The type locality was originally given as "Mundame am Mungo". However, Edward Harrison Taylor later gave the type locality as "Victoria", corresponding to the present-day Limbé, but this is likely erroneous.[2][3]

Description

The holotype measured 239 mm (9.4 in) in snout–vent length and was 4 mm (0.2 in) wide, albeit in a badly shrunken state. This species can be distinguished based on its high number of annuli. The original species description does not differentiate between primary and secondary annuli (the latter not reaching round the body), but the description can be interpreted as implying 166 primary annuli and eight (possibly more) secondary annuli. The first is the highest count for an African caecilian. The body likely ended in a small terminal cap. The eyes were likely hidden, given that they were not mentioned in the species description. Coloration was dark brown, with head lighter.[3]

Ecology

Ecology of this species is unknown.[1][3]

References
  1. IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Herpele multiplicata". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T59564A16957900. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59564A16957900.en.
  2. Frost, Darrel R. (2018). "Herpele multiplicata Nieden, 1912". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 24 October 2018.
  3. Wilkinson, Mark; Müller, Hendrik & Gower, David J. (2003). "On Herpele multiplicata (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae)". African Journal of Herpetology. 52 (2): 119–122. doi:10.1080/21564574.2003.9635488.
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