Giant Lungless "Worm" Found Living on Land

[n2doc]

Matt Kaplan
for National Geographic News
November 18, 2009
A new amphibian species can survive on land with no nostrils, lungs, or legs, say researchers who discovered the bizarre beast.

The creature, found in Guyana, is part of the wormlike group of amphibians known as caecilians. Only one other caecilian species is known to live without lungs.

In general, the presence of lungs is among the key characteristics that make amphibians different from fish.

Until recently, scientists thought salamanders were the only amphibians that lack lungs. But in 1995 researchers found the first known lungless caecilian, and in 2008 another team reported a tiny, land-dwelling, lungless frog.

The new species is even more of a surprise, because the animal—named Caecilita iwokramae—is strikingly different from the other known lungless caecilian, the study authors note.

Caecilita lives on land and is just 4.4 inches (11 centimeters) long, while its lungless relative is fully aquatic and reaches 27.5 inches (70 centimeters) in length.

mre:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2009/11/091118-lungs-amphibian-worm-caecilian.html

[Craftsman]

1. And what political office does he hold?

[Frustratedlady]

4. Were you thinking of heartless? That's a party...the Repugs.

We've had so much rain, that's probably what our nightcrawlers look like.

[dalaigh lllama]

6. That's another species -- the gutless worm

[Pharaoh]

7. Senator from

Connecticut, Joe Lieberman

[sinkingfeeling]

10. Yep, I thought this was going to be about one of the Cheneys.

[notesdev]

19. Politicus weaselus is missing a different organ

or two: Balls and brains.

[TwilightGardener]

2. Cool. And I didn't know salamanders had no lungs.

[TheMadMonk]

18. Some species only. Axolotl (sp) would be one almost everyone knows. nt

[MineralMan]

3. If only it was brainless, too, it could be a GOOPer

congressperson.

[no_hypocrisy]

5. Does it have gills or does it absorb oxygen through its skin?

[Deep13]

8. 11cm isn't exactly "giant." nt

[doc03]

9. Didn't they do a movie about them staring Keven Bacon

and Reba McIntire?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JXfgwiZIULU

[Love Bug]

11. This is one of the things I love about DU!

The smartassery here is second to none!

:evilgrin:

[Thor_MN]

12. But it can't begin to rival the dumbassery of the freepers...

Just saying...

[Love Bug]

13. That's true. NOTHING rivals that.

[FSogol]

14. Sorry, but under 3 feet doesn't meet my definition of "Giant"

And what's the difference between a small snake and large worm? :shrug:

[eppur_se_muova]

16. Pretty minor -- one's vertebrate, one's invertebrate. nt

[FSogol]

17. How about small spineless snake instead of giant lungless worm? n/t

[hunter]

15. If you are a frog prince the wicked witch turns you into a lungless worm prince.

(c) "No more singing for you, little froggie!"