Marbled Caecilian
Epicrionops marmoratus
Epicrionops marmoratus, the marbled caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Rhinatrematidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and only known from its type locality, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, and from near Mindo in the Pichincha Province in north-western Ecuador.
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Countries
Taxonomy & Classification
Kingdom
Animalia
Phylum
Chordata
Class
Amphibia
Order
Gymnophiona
Family
Rhinatrematidae
Genus
Epicrionops
Marbled Caecilian belongs to the family Rhinatrematidae, order Gymnophiona, within the Amphibia class.
Species Profile
Epicrionops marmoratus, the marbled caecilian, is a species of caecilian in the family Rhinatrematidae. It is endemic to Ecuador and only known from its type locality, Santo Domingo de los Colorados, and from near Mindo in the Pichincha Province in north-western Ecuador. It is a poorly known species that might be a junior synonym of Epicrionops bicolor.
The Marbled Caecilian faces severe threats primarily from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, and urban development in its limited range in Ecuador. As a soil-dwelling amphibian with specific moisture and temperature requirements, it is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Its extremely restricted distribution makes the species highly susceptible to local extinctions from human activities.
Key Facts
Habitat & Distribution
Epicrionops marmoratus is associated with montane forests at about of above sea level, although the type locality is also cited as being at about . The eggs are presumably laid on land while the larvae are believed to develop in streams. Threats to this species are unknown, but could involve habitat loss caused by livestock rearing, agricultural activities, and water pollution. It is protected...
Threats
IUCN Red List: Critically Endangered
The Marbled Caecilian faces severe threats primarily from habitat destruction due to agricultural expansion, deforestation, and urban development in its limited range in Ecuador. As a soil-dwelling amphibian with specific moisture and temperature requirements, it is particularly vulnerable to habitat fragmentation and degradation. Its extremely restricted distribution makes the species highly susceptible to local extinctions from human activities.
Agricultural expansion and conversion
Deforestation and logging
Habitat fragmentation
Urban development and infrastructure
Climate change and altered precipitation patterns
Found in 1 Country
Community Sightings
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Sources & Attribution
How to Cite
IUCN: IUCN (2025). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2025-1. Available at: https://www.iucnredlist.org. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2025-1.RLTS
GBIF: GBIF.org (2025). GBIF Home Page. Available at: https://www.gbif.org
This page: SpeciesRadar (2025). Marbled Caecilian (Epicrionops marmoratus). SpeciesRadar: Intelligence for Earth's Biodiversity. Available at: https://speciesradar.org/species/marbled-caecilian