The first known caecilian found in the US was in 2019 in a canal in Miami, Florida and now scientists are trying to determine if they are invasive species to the state
Florida could be overrun by disturbing-looking “penis snakes” that may have slithered their way in from the Amazon.
Caecilians can grow up to five feet long and DNA analysts believe the first one found in the US was in 2019 in a canal in Miami, Florida.
Officials are trying to determine if the rare caecilians have established themselves in Florida following reports of another one being spotted in the same canal but in a different spot.
Scientists in Florida are eager to understand more about the rare creature and its prevalence in the state.
Florida’s ecology already suffers from other invasive species such as the Burmese python, the yellow anaconda and the green iguana.
The one found in Miami was about two feet long. Researchers kept it in a tank where it survived before while but eventually died after refusing to eat, the Fort Myers News-Press reported.
These noodle-shaped amphibians can mostly be found in the tropics of South and Central America, Africa, and southern Asia.
Caecilians are not snakes because they do not have a tail, but they are also not quite worms because they possess a skull and backbone.
They also give birth to live young instead of laying eggs.
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Their name means “blind” in Latin, but some species have tiny eyes under their skin.
The one found in the canal was a Typhlonectes natans, known as the Rio Cauca caecilian.
They can be sold as pets and can fetch a price tag of $300 to $1,000 (£215 to £716), according to local news.
Caecilians use a pair of sensory tentacles to be able to smell food, according to scientists in Florida.
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These creatures remain a mystery to many but fossils reportedly dating back to 170million years ago were found in North America.
Coleman Sheehy, manager of Florida Museum’s herpetology collection, said: “This was not on my radar.
“I didn’t think we’d one day find a caecilian in Florida. So, this was a huge surprise.”
Sheehy said he is trying to determine if the caecilians are an invasive species that will be detrimental to Florida’s ecosystem.
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They added: “That’s what we want to find out: what the impacts might be of an invasive species in our native waters. We need to know that and know how they’re impacting the environment.”
“We need to know what it is so we can get ahead of it and mitigate any issues.”
It is believed that there are about 200 species of caecilians and they usually live underground, according to Wired.
Caecilians’ diet consists of termites but they can grab small snakes, frogs, and lizards.
Their prey is swallowed whole no matter what size it is.
In August 2018, a genetic study found cross-bred DNA in an invasive snake species that emerged from the Florida Everglades.
The snake was a mix of Burmese and Indian python snakes and officials warned they could be found across America as they are suited to a range of different climates and environments.