Sylvacaecilia is a monotypic genus of caecilian in the family Grandisoniidae. The only species is Sylvacaecilia grandisonae, also known as the Aleku caecilian or Ethiopian caecilian. It is endemic to southwestern Ethiopia and known from the Gambela, Oromia, and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Regions.
The generic name Sylvacaecilia is derived from Greek sylva, referring to the forest habitat of these animals, and Latin caecilia, in reference to the taxon. The specific name grandisonae honours Miss Alice G. C. Grandison, a Curator of Herpetology at Natural History Museum, London and whom Taylor acknowledges as having been "helpful in providing these specimens for study".
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TerrestrialTerrestrial animals are animals that live predominantly or entirely on land (e.g., cats, ants, snails), as compared with aquatic animals, which liv...
Oviparous animals are female animals that lay their eggs, with little or no other embryonic development within the mother. This is the reproductive...
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starts withSylvacaecilia grandisonae was described based on two specimens, the female holotype measuring 259 mm (10.2 in) in total length, and the male paratype measuring 231 mm (9.1 in) in total length. The body is relatively thick, with body width in length approximately 24 times.
Sylvacaecilia grandisonae has free-living larval stage.