HIGH DENSITY ROAD KILL EVENT of Gymnopis multiplicata AND FIRST ROAD KILL REPORT of Dermophis glandulosus, TWO CAECILIAN SPECIES IN COSTA RICA

Abstract

Caecilians are the least known group of amphibians due to their fossorial lifestyle, which make them difficult to find and study. It has been observed that these organisms tend to surface after heavy rains because their burrows are flooded and they need to breathe. Here I present the first roadkill report for Dermophis glandulosus and additional road kill reports of Gymnopis multiplicata in Costa Rica. In March 2020, on the road to Pozos, Puriscal, Costa Rica, a total of 23 caecilians road kills were found on a 3.94km road segment. This unusual observation could be a consequence of heavy rains reported in the area the day before the event. This is the highest caecilian road kill density reported at national level.