As we speak is a really distinctive one–taxonomically and so far as figures go. For most individuals, once we discuss ‘amphibians’ they consider frogs and toads (Salienta), and salamanders and newts (Caudata), however there’s a 3rd group. As we speak might be the one larger-scale toy determine of the third important department, the caecilians, clade Gymnophiona. It’s sort of a bizarre group, limbless, tiny or no eyes, lengthy and wormy our bodies. Your entire group is discovered solely within the southern hemisphere, in East and West Africa, the Seychelles, Southeast Asia, and Central and South America. Caecilians are total carnivorous, and are both aquatic, residing in streambeds; or terrestrial, burrowing in substrate and soil. This pretty cryptic existence, and their restricted distribution, might be why they’re largely unfamiliar, and don’t get a lot toy consideration.
The determine we’re seeing at present is among the terrestrial species, probably essentially the most widely-distributed terrestrial caecilian, the ringed caecilian Siphonops annulatus. Of all firms it may…I discovered it on Aliexpress from Oenux, and tagged with a label that claims ‘Animal Paradise’. Whereas Oenux is most identified for what seem to both be knock offs (akin to seen right here on the finish of the submit) or recasts of figures kind different firms (together with however not restricted to Safari, CollectA and Colorata), this determine seems to be totally distinctive to Oenux–odd that they’d make one thing so uncommon on their very own (at the least so far as anyone can inform, but when somebody can discover an ‘original’ it could be price discovering!)
The ringed caecilian is discovered all through a lot of northern South America east of the Andes in a ridiculously broad vary of disturbed and undisturbed habitats, together with lowland forests, savannas, shrubland, grassland, pastures, gardens, and degraded forests. Local weather regimes will be tropical, subtropical, dry, or moist. It seems that they simply want a habitat with soil that permits them bury into the shallow substrate. They’re listed as Least Concern by the IUCN.
Ringed caecilians are widespread however not well-understood. They spend most of their time burrowing underground, utilizing their thick cranium to push the substrate. They prey on soil-dwelling invertebrates like worms, slugs, snails and bugs, however could also be preyed upon by mammals, snakes, and ants. Perhaps. As a result of like many caecilians, ringed caecilians secrete a toxin via their pores and skin that may trigger paralysis and even dying in rats. Additionally attention-grabbing, ringed caecilians (like many species) exhibit some maternal care, with the younger feeding on the pores and skin of the mom (dermatophagy) in addition to being supplied a ‘milk’ from the mom’s cloaca. They’re modestly sized, starting from 29cm – 45cm (11 – 17 inches) lengthy.
The determine is in a serpentine form, with the tail looped up over the again finish of the physique. Doing my greatest to measure alongside the winding size, it’s about 20 cm (7.8 inches) lengthy, so the size may vary from round 1:1.4 to 1:2.3; in different phrases, roughly life dimension, roughly. It’s worm-like, cylindrical in cross-section, with a bluntly rounded head and barely tapered tail. The pinnacle is sculpted with tiny eye orbits that comprise a tiny bump for a watch, and a shallow groove to point the mouth. That is fairly near the precise animal, though some seem to have a barely flatter head, and a bit extra rounding to the tail; my guess, that is meant as to confuse predators as it may be troublesome to inform which finish is which (head-tail deception). Or ought to be.
Your entire physique behind the top is incised with grooves encircling the physique, usually spaced all the best way to the tip of the tail. This offers the determine the looks of a collection of rings all alongside the physique–similar to the title ringed caecilian says! There may be additionally a slight lateral ridge of fabric all alongside the center of the physique–that is clearly an unlucky manufacturing challenge. The origin behind the top is roughly appropriate, however they need to additionally finish about the identical distance from the tip of the tail, as an alternative of extending all alongside the physique. However in any other case.
The colouring of the determine is sort of shut, however sloppy, on condition that it isn’t a posh sample. It’s additionally a really matte utility, somewhat than the very shiny, shiny look of the ringed caecilian. The general physique is black from head to tail. The groove that separates every annulation is marked with white. Within the precise caecilian this colouring may be very crisp–the grooves are white, the annulations are shades of blue or gentle black. On the determine the white is…not crisp. It’s fairly messy really. Some rings are fairly crisp, whereas others are irregularly lined in white. It comes throughout like a wash, somewhat than a cautious paint utility. This additionally spreads to the top and tail–each of which ought to be the darkish base color. And the final three rings earlier than the tail also needs to be uncoloured, including to the head-tail deception. The orbit can be ringed in white across the pupil, which once more ought to be monochromatic.
So the determine is a particular caecilian, however there may be some sloppiness in regards to the paint and sculpt–particularly the rings to the top of the tail. Whereas taking a look at different spcieThere is a caecilian Geotrypetes seraphini, the Gaboon caecilian, that has an identical look, comparable darkish color with gentle grooves, and the rings to the tail tip. However the white rings don’t absolutely encircle the physique, however as an alternative are wider on the stomach and skinny to no marking on the again. And the heads are very flat. So arguments both method, however the uniform grooves of the rings, with encircled white ring, are in all probability extra just like the ringed caecilian.
Whichever species it’s (they usually’re comparatively cheap, be happy to purchase a number of and customise the paint), this determine stands out as worthwhile to collectors as a result of it’s actually the one certainly one of a good dimension. So far as I’ve ever been capable of finding, there are simply three different, very small, very obscure figures from a COG bitty bucket that I reviewed a number of years in the past. Curiously, they’re three totally different species, so at the least we’ve received some selection. Additionally oddly, all 4 are terrestrial varieties, so we’re nonetheless ready for an aquatic one (or at the least a definitive one…) I bear in mind working with so-called ‘rubber eels’ (household Typhlonetidae) in my aquarium days. They have been neat, and type of fish-ish. There additionally was once a 3D mannequin on Shapeways of the fossil species Eocaecilia (which sure, I’ve) however I don’t know if it’s nonetheless there. In brief, whereas it’s not an ideal mannequin, I’d suggest getting maintain of this ringed caecilian from Oenux. I can’t think about we’ll be seeing one once more for some time.
