New to Nature No 48: Boulengerula fischeri

Caecilians are among the most unusual amphibians and Boulengerula fischeri is perhaps the most unusual of the species. Described as "living pink spaghetti", these creatures have about 200 vertebrae and attain lengths up to 400mm in spite of their scant 5mm diameter. It was known from a single specimen for 20 years and was only recently rediscovered in low-intensity agricultural land in Rwanda. Often confused with earthworms or snakes, caecilians are rarely collected, making assessment of their conservation status problematic. Quentin Wheeler is director of the International Institute for Species Exploration, Arizona State University