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Amphibia    Gymnophiona    Typhlonectidae  
Rio Cauca Caecilian
Typhlonectes natans (Fischer in Peters, 1880)
TIE-floh-NEK-teez — NAY-tans
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SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
 Newly listed species. Native to the Cauca River and Magdalena River drainage systems in western and northern Colombia and around the Maracaibo River Basin in northwestern Venezuela. It has been introduced via the pet trade in Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida. A single specimen was found in 2019 in the extensive waterways of the Tamiami Canal (C–4) just south of the Miami International Airport (Sheehy et al., 2021, Reptiles & Amphibians 28: 355–357). Between 2019 and 2024, at least 110 specimens have been vouchered from five localities (dispersed over 10.5 km) in Miami-Dade County (Florida Museum of Natural History [FLMNH] 190000, 192195–6, 192311–40, 192401–48, 193493–507, 193948, 194665–8, 194670–8). (Krysko, Kenneth and Travis W. Taggart. 2025. Established Exotic Species. Pages 64-87 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Errata/Changes: Page 67: Updated the account to include the most recent publication detailing their status and distribution in Florida. "Newly listed species. This species is native to the Cauca and Magdalena River drainage systems in western and northern Colombia, as well as the Maracaibo River Basin in northwestern Venezuela. It has been introduced to the United States via the pet trade and is now established in portions of Miami, Miami-Dade County, Florida. The first known specimen was documented in 2019 from the extensive waterways of the Tamiami Canal (C–4), just south of the Miami International Airport (Sheehy et al. 2021. Reptiles & Amphibians 28: 355–357). More recently, Sheehy et al. (2025. Reptiles & Amphibians 32(e23352):12) reported that the species now occupies approximately 28.7 km of canals in western Miami, indicating a notable expansion of its non-native range. — (8/26/2025)

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Open icons indicate questionable records, including those with coordinate uncertainty greater than 10,000 m (approximately 6 miles). Click a marker to view metadata.
Occurrences:; 233 Total; 212 Museum; 21 Other

The locality database contains 8,094,832 records, and geographic and taxonomic errors exist. Logged-in, registered users may report a potential issue directly from the marker popup.
Shaded range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH. (Version: 2026.07.15.13.21.42)
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Polygon Range File Museum Literature Fossil Personal Observation Citizen Science

Province/State Distribution:

Taxonomic Etymology:
A blind, fully aquatic legless amphibian Named for its lack of eyes and swimming lifestyle.
Typhlonectes — From Greek typhlos (τυφλός), “blind,” and nectes (νηκτής), “swimmer.” Thus, “blind swimmer,” referring to its eyeless condition and aquatic mode of life.
natans — From Latin natare, “to swim.” Natans means “swimming,” again emphasizing the fully aquatic behavior of this caecilian.

First instance(s) of published English names:
No historic English names have been assigned to this taxon yet.


Selected References:
1880 Fischer, Johann Gustav. Über die Eintheilung der Caecilien und insbesondere über die Gattungen Rhinatrema und Gymnopis. Pages 924–944 in Peters, W. C. H. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussische Akademie des Wissenschaften zu Berlin. Monatsberichte der Königlichen Preussische Akademie des Wissenschaften, Berlin, Germany. pp.
2021 Sheehy, Coleman M., III, David C. Blackburn, Marcel T. Kouete, Kelly B. Gestring, Krissy Laurie, Austin Prechtel, Eric Suarez, and Booke L. Talley. First record of a Caecilian (Order Gymnophiona, Family Typhlonectidae, Typhlonectes natans) in Florida and in the United States. Reptiles & Amphibians 28(2):355–357
2025 Sheehy, Coleman M., III, Robert H. Robins, David C. Blackburn, Jaimi A. Gray, Magalie Zoungrana, and Marcel T. Kouete. Establishment of aquatic Rio Cauca Caecilians, Typhlonectes natans (Fischer 1880) (Gymnophiona: Typhlonectidae), in Florida, with notes on their relative abundance, distribution, and natural history. Reptiles & Amphibians 32(e23352):1-12

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