How do the families Caeciliidae and Ichthyophiidae differ in whether they have tails?

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Within the order Gymnophiona, the families Caeciliidae and Ichthyophiidae differ significantly regarding the presence of a tail:

  • Family Caeciliidae: Members of this family do not have a tail.1
  • Family Ichthyophiidae: Members of this family possess a tail.1

The presence or absence of a tail is one of the key morphological characteristics used to distinguish between the various living families of caecilians.2