Rare Mindanao caecilian recorded in Mount Apo Natural Park

DAVAO CITY (October 19) — A rare amphibian found only in Mindanao has been documented at Mount Apo Natural Park, giving wildlife monitors a scientifically confirmed record of the elusive Mindanao caecilian and adding to knowledge of the endemic species inhabiting the protected area.

The Mindanao caecilian (Ichthyophis mindanaoensis) is a limbless amphibian that resembles an earthworm or a small snake. It was recorded at a Biodiversity Monitoring System (BMS) site within the park in Cotabato.

The species is classified as an Other Threatened Species (OTS) under Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) Administrative Order No. 2019-09.

Marisol G. Pedregosa, a wildlife biologist and watershed management officer of Energy Development Corporation, identified the animal. Arvin Diesmos, director of the National Museum of Natural History under the National Museum of the Philippines in Manila, subsequently confirmed its identity.

The record adds to the scientific documentation of wildlife in Mount Apo Natural Park. Systematic biodiversity monitoring helps establish which species are present and where they occur, providing information that can guide conservation efforts, particularly for endemic animals that are rarely encountered.

Despite its snake-like appearance, the Mindanao caecilian is non-venomous and harmless to humans. The DENR’s Mount Apo Natural Park Protected Area Management Office in Cotabato said the animal is sometimes mistaken for a venomous reptile and killed out of fear.

The office urged the public not to kill unfamiliar animals and to seek proper identification from wildlife authorities or scientists.

The caecilian feeds on small soil-dwelling organisms and forms part of the ecosystem’s food web. Its documentation highlights the value of monitoring less conspicuous species alongside more familiar wildlife to improve understanding of Mindanao’s biodiversity.