| Western waterdog | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Necturus beyeri | |
Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Proteidae |
| Genus: | Necturus |
| Species: | N. beyeri |
| Binomial name | |
| Necturus beyeri Viosca, 1937 | |
| Synonyms | |
Necturus lodingiViosca, 1937 | |
Thewestern waterdog (Necturus beyeri)[2] is aspecies of aquaticsalamander in the familyProteidae. It isendemic to the deep South, where it occurs inAlabama,Louisiana,Mississippi, andTexas.[1]
This may be aspecies complex that could be split into different taxa as research indicates;[3] theApalachicola (N. moleri) andEscambia (N. mounti) waterdogs were split from this species in 2020; previously, they were all grouped together as theGulf Coast waterdog.[2] It is closely related toNecturus alabamensis.[4]
Studies indicate that as currently defined, it comprises four lineages: the "Mobile" lineage (ranging from theMobile River to theBiloxi River), the "Pearl" lineage (ranging from theWolf River to thePearl River), the "Pontchartrain" lineage (ranging from theBayou Bonfouca inLouisiana to theBlind River), and the "Western" lineage (ranging from theCalcasieu River to the west fork of theSan Jacinto River).[2][5]
Adults are 6 to 8.5 inches (15 to 22 cm) in length. It is brown with light brown and black speckles. It exhibitsneoteny, retaining its gills and larva-like tail into adulthood. It can be distinguished fromN. moleri andN. mounti (formerly thought to be conspecific) by its comparatively larger size, heavier spotting, and the unstriped larvae with numerous white spots.[2][6]
N. beyeri exhibits sexual dimorphism as males are typically larger than females, which could possibly play a role in mating behaviors and territorial disputes.[7]
This species lives in streams with sandy bottoms. It remains on the substrate or burrows into it, sometimes hiding in debris.[4]
Individuals of both sexes move more during the colder months of the year and seem to use one site as a home area from which they occasionally exhibit long-distance movements.[8]
The female attaches its eggs to aquatic debris.[9]
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