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A long, dark gray aquatic caecilian swimming along the bottom of a tank.
Photo: Christophe cagé 6 july 2007, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Aquatic Caecilian

Typhlonectes natans

A legless, worm-like South American amphibian, nicknamed the 'rubber eel,' that lives in rivers.

🐸 Amphibians
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About the Aquatic Caecilian

Aquatic caecilians, also called rubber eels, are 18 to 22 inches long with smooth, slimy, dark gray skin and rings around the body. They have no legs. They live in lowland rivers and streams of Colombia and Venezuela, burrowing in sand and leaf litter. They are carnivores that slowly approach, then quickly grab insect larvae, worms and small fish with peg-like teeth.[1]

Quick facts

Scientific name
Typhlonectes natans[1]
Size
18 to 22 inches long.[1]
Lifespan
4 to 5 years in the wild; mid-teens in human care.[1]
Diet
Carnivore. Insect larvae, worms and small fish.[1]
Habitat
Lowland rivers and streams.[1]
Where it lives
Colombia and Venezuela.[1]
Babies
Live young.[1]
Conservation status
Least Concern (IUCN Red List, assessed 2020).[2]

Fun facts

  • Caecilians are amphibians, not worms or eels.[1]
  • They breathe mostly through their skin.[1]
  • A small tentacle on the face helps them sense chemicals.[1]

Vocabulary

amphibian
A cold-blooded animal, such as a frog or salamander, that usually starts life in water and has moist skin.
caecilian
A legless amphibian that looks like a worm.
tentacle
A long, flexible body part used to feel or sense.
carnivore
An animal that eats mostly meat.
least concern
A conservation label meaning a species is widespread and not at risk of dying out soon.

See it in person

These zoos had this animal when we gathered our information, but animals sometimes move. Check the zoo's website or contact the zoo before you visit.

Sources

  1. [1] Smithsonian's National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute. “Aquatic caecilian.” https://nationalzoo.si.edu/animals/aquatic-caecilian (accessed 2026-10-08)
  2. [2] IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. “Typhlonectes natans (Rio Cauca Caecilian).” https://www.iucnredlist.org/species/59601/85909110 (accessed 2026-10-08)

Facts last checked 2026-10-08.