In this paper we list seven species of caecilians known to occur in Surinam. An eighth species, the aquatic Typhlonectes compressicaudus, is likely to be found in Surinam, but there are no voucher specimens. We report the rediscovery of the rare Rhinatrema bivittatum, now known from four specimens, one each from Brazil, French Guiana, Guyana, and Surinam. Microcaecilia taylori, described as a new species from Sipaliwini, is characterized mainly by a complete lack of secondary annuli, a feature which necessitated rediagnosis of the genus Microcaecilia. A Microcaecilia from the Lely Mountains differs from all known specimens of the genus by its larger size. The specimen is either a geographic variant of Microcaecilia unicolor, or it is an undescribed species. Additional material is needed to solve the problem. The known ranges of Rhinatrema bivittatum and Microcaecilia rabei are significantly extended. A key to Surinam caecilians is provided. A discussion on zoogeography leads to the tentative conclusion that part of the 13 species of caecilians known from Guiana are widespread, but others apparently have limited distributions and might represent indicator species of former forest-refuges.

Zoologische Mededelingen

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Naturalis journals & series

Nussbaum, R. A., & Hoogmoed, M. S. (1979). Surinam Caecilians, with notes on Rhinatrema Bivittatum and the description of a new species of Microcaecilia (Amphibia, Gymnophiona). Zoologische Mededelingen, 54(14), 217–235.