The family Uraeotyphlidae, commonly known as Indian caecilians, belongs to the order Gymnophiona, which comprises limbless, burrowing amphibians. Members of this family are endemic to the Western Ghats of India and are characterized by elongated, cylindrical bodies, smooth skin, and reduced or absent eyes, adaptations for a subterranean lifestyle. Uraeotyphlids primarily feed on small invertebrates such as earthworms and insects and are largely secretive, spending most of their lives underground. They exhibit direct development, meaning their young hatch as miniature adults rather than passing through a free-living larval stage, a trait that distinguishes them from many other amphibians. This family is of particular ecological importance, contributing to soil aeration and nutrient cycling in their native habitats.