On the status of Nectocaecilia fasciata Taylor, with a discussion of the phylogeny of the Typhlonectidae (Amphibia: Gymnophiona)

Nectocaecilia fasciata Taylor is a junior synonym of Chthonerpeton indistinctum Reinhardt and Lutken. The range of Nectocaecilia is restricted to northern South America. A hypothesis of phylogenetic relationships among the four genera of the Typhlonectidae is proposed, and alternative hypotheses are evaluated. The recently established genus Pseudotyphlonectes and other higher taxonomic categories proposed by Lescure et al. (1986) for the Typhlonectidae are invalid. Pseudotyplonectes is a junior synonym of Typhlonectes Peters. It is suggested that phylogenetic studies of the Gymnophiona should proceed independently of taxonomic considerations until a compelling hypothesis is accepted.