The British Herpetological Society

The Herpetological Journal is the Society's prestigious quarterly scientific journal. Articles are listed in Biological Abstracts, Current Awareness in Biological Sciences,Current Contents, Science Citation Index, and Zoological Record.

 ISSN 0268-0130

2021 Impact Factor from Clarivate for the Herpetological Journal is 1.194, an increase of 0.332 from 2020.


pdf 08. Taxonomic status of the Guyanese endemic caecilian Caecilia pressula Taylor, 1968 (Amphibia: Gymnophiona: Caeciliidae)

746 downloads

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.33256/hj30.4.227229

pp. 227-229

Author: Mark Wilkinson

Abstract: The taxonomic status of the poorly known Neotropical caecilian species Caecilia pressula Taylor, 1968 is reconsidered based on examination of the type series. The single reported diagnostic feature, a laterally compressed body, that purportedly distinguishes C. pressula from Caecilia tentaculata Linnaeus, 1758 is not consistent across the seven specimens that constitute the type series and the only reported specimens, is variable in the Holotype depending on how it is held, and is considered to be artefactual. Caecilia pressula is considered to be a junior synonym of Caecilia tentaculata. Dentitional features of the smallest and presumed youngest specimens in the
type series provide evidence that C. tentaculata practices maternal dermatophagy.

Keywords: Guyana, neotropics, reproduction, systematics

 

Download Access:

The latest 8 issues can be downloaded when logged in with a Herpetological Journal subscription membership.

Individual articles can be purchased for download.

Older issues and occasional Open Access articles are available for public download

Submissions:

For further information and submission guidelines please see our Journal Instructions to Authors

pdfBHS Ethics Policy

IMPORTANT NOTE - JUNE 2020

Please note that as from Volume 31 Number 1 (January 2021) on, the Herpetological Journal will be available as an online publication only - the last print edition will be Volume 30 Number 4.   

Aligning with this change, it is now no longer possible to purchase a subscription that includes a print copy of the HJ.  All members who have existing HJ print subscriptions that remain active as at end June 2020 will receive the full four 2020 print editions.  New subscribers or renewals after this time will only have option to subscribe to the online only subscription package.  Subscription pricing has been amended to reflect the content changes.