Taxonomy
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Chordata
- Class
- Amphibian
- Order
- Apoda
- Family
- Chikilidae
Habitat
This species inhabits moist, tropical forests and grasslands in northeastern India, particularly in Assam and Meghalaya, where it burrows in loose, damp soil near streams and under leaf litter. It prefers elevations between 100 and 1000 meters in areas with high humidity and abundant rainfall.
Diet
Fuller's caecilian primarily eats earthworms, insects, and other small invertebrates like termites and beetle larvae. It hunts nocturnally by burrowing through soil and using its tentacles to detect prey, often ambushing them in their tunnels.
Behavior
Fuller's caecilian is solitary and fossorial, spending most of its time burrowing underground to avoid predators and regulate moisture. It is primarily nocturnal, emerging at night to forage, and exhibits minimal social interactions except during mating.
Conservation Status
IUCN status is Endangered due to habitat loss from deforestation and agricultural expansion; population trends are decreasing with major threats including pollution and climate change.