Printer Friendly
Dictionary, Encyclopedia and Thesaurus - The Free Dictionary
1,740,584,504 visitors served.
forum mailing list For webmasters
?
New: Language forums
Dictionary/
thesaurus
Medical
dictionary
Legal
dictionary
Financial
dictionary
Acronyms
 
Idioms
Encyclopedia
Wikipedia
encyclopedia
?

caecilian

   Also found in: Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.01 sec.
cae·cil·ian  (s-slyn, -sl-n, -sl-)
n.
Any of various legless, burrowing, wormlike amphibians of the order Gymnophiona, of tropical regions.

[From Latin caecilia, a kind of lizard, from caecus, blind (from its small eyes).]

caecilian [siːˈsɪlɪən]
n
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any tropical limbless cylindrical amphibian of the order Apoda (or Gymnophiona), resembling earthworms and inhabiting moist soil
[from Latin caecilia a kind of lizard, from caecus blind]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.caeciliancaecilian - any of the small slender limbless burrowing wormlike amphibians of the order Gymnophiona; inhabit moist soil in tropical regions
amphibian - cold-blooded vertebrate typically living on land but breeding in water; aquatic larvae undergo metamorphosis into adult form
Caeciliadae, Caeciliidae, family Caeciliadae, family Caeciliidae - coextensive with the order Gymnophiona: legless amphibians
Adj.1.caecilian - of or relating to or belonging to the family Caeciliidae


How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
?Page tools
Printer friendly
Cite / link
Email
Feedback
Add definition
? Mentioned in ? References in periodicals archive
 
A female in a species of legless amphibians called caecilians nourishes her youngsters by letting them eat the skin off her back, says an international research team.
Frogs are one type of amphibian, a group of animals that also includes toads, salamanders, and wormlike caecilians (si-SIL-yuns).
Reptiles and Amphibians examines the diversity of these two groups and specifically details how metamorphosis occurs in frogs, salamanders, and caecilians and how venom, especially in snakes, has evolved into such an effective tool.
 
Dictionary/thesaurus browser? ? Full browser
 
 
Dictionary, Thesaurus, and Translations
?

Disclaimer | Privacy policy | Feedback | Copyright © 2009 Farlex, Inc.
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. Terms of Use.