| Dwarf waterdog | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification
| |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Proteidae |
| Genus: | Necturus |
| Species: | N. punctatus
|
| Binomial name | |
| Necturus punctatus (Gibbes, 1850)
| |
| Synonyms [2] | |
|
Menobranchus punctatus Gibbes, 1850 | |
The dwarf waterdog (Necturus punctatus) is an aquatic salamander endemic to the Eastern United States. [1] [2] [3] It is the smallest member of the family Proteidae. [3]
Description
This species is usually between 11.5 and 19 cm (4.5 and 7.5 in) long. It has bushy, narrow gills and a compressed tail. All feet have four toes. The salamander is uniform slate gray to brown or dark olive dorsally and dirty white ventrally. Most individuals have no dorsal spots; when the dorsal spots are present, the venter is unspotted (unlike in Necturus lewisi, which is also a larger species). Juveniles are uniformly brown dorsally (as opposed to striped, as in other juvenile Necturus). [3]
Geographic range
Necturus punctatus is found on the Atlantic coastal plain and the Piedmont of the eastern United States, from southeastern Virginia to southcentral Georgia. [1] [2] Populations further west into Alabama and Florida represent another, undescribed species. [2]
Habitat
Dwarf waterdogs live in slow, sand- or mud-bottomed streams and connected ditches, cypress swamps; also stream-fed rice fields and mill ponds. They prefer bottoms with leaf litter and other detritus. During winter juveniles burrow into bottom and adults in leaf beds. [1]
Conservation
Necturus punctatus is not considered threatened—it has a relatively wide range, with viable populations through most of it. It is not facing major threats, and it is present in several protected areas. [1]
References
- ^ a b c d e IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2014). "Necturus punctatus". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2014: e.T59434A56453993. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2014-1.RLTS.T59434A56453993.en. Retrieved 20 November 2021.
- ^ a b c d Frost, Darrel R. (2021). "Necturus punctatus (Gibbes, 1850)". Amphibian Species of the World: An Online Reference. Version 6.1. American Museum of Natural History. doi: 10.5531/db.vz.0001. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
- ^ a b c "Necturus punctatus Dwarf waterdog". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.