Copulation and egg retention in an oviparous Caecilian (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)

Viviparity (i.e., the bearing of live young) has evolved from oviparity (egg laying) independently in various major vertebrate lineages, and several transitional stages have been described. The transition from oviparity to viviparity requires the retention of fertilised eggs in the female reproductive tract. Caecilian amphibians (Gymnophiona) display a considerable diversity of reproductive modes, including oviparity and viviparity. Among amphibians, caecilians have also modified the process of internal fertilisation through a special intromittent organ, or phallus, in males. Here we report the oviposition of "embryonated" eggs ranging from various gastrula-to-neurula stages by female lchthyophis cf. kohtaoensis (Ichthyophiidae) from North-eastern Thailand. In addition, we describe a copulation resulting in an oviposition of embryonated eggs. Our findings will have implications for the further understanding of the evolutionary reproductive biology of amphibians. (c) 2006 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.