caecilian

American  

[see-sil-ee-uhn] / siˈsɪl i ən /

noun

1. Also called blindworm.  a legless, wormlike tropical amphibian of the order Gymnophiona (formerly Apoda), spending most of its life underground and usually almost blind.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a caecilian.

caecilian British  

/ siːˈsɪlɪən /

noun

1. any tropical limbless cylindrical amphibian of the order Apoda (or Gymnophiona ), resembling earthworms and inhabiting moist soil

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Etymology

Origin of caecilian

1875–80; < Latin caecili ( a ) blindworm + -an

Example Sentences

Amphibians, a class of animals able to live both on land and in the water, consist of three groups: frogs, salamanders and the wormlike animals called caecilians.

From Washington Post

It is so old, in fact, that it has legs, where modern caecilians are limbless, looking like worms and snakes.

From Washington Times

Along with the mata mata turtle and reptile known as the tuatara, among the other animals studied were caecilians, a slithery type of amphibian with an outward appearance akin to snakes.

From Salon

The creatures included 50 turtles, a tuatara, a lungfish and a caecilian.

From BBC

A wormlike caecilian and a moth with a yellow crown of scales were named after former President Donald Trump.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• frog
• salamander
• toad