Britannica Sources used in this answer

What do terrestrial caecilians eat?

Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

Zoom in on the serpentine locomotion of the limbless, amphibious caecilian over soil — Gymnophiona Caecilian moving over soil.

Terrestrial caecilians primarily consume earthworms and other soft-bodied prey.1

They hunt both aboveground and within subterranean burrows, utilizing a specialized chemosensory tentacle located on each side of the head to locate their food. Once prey is detected, they use their powerful, recurved teeth to capture, masticate, and swallow it.1