| Necturus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Necturus maculosus | |
Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Proteidae |
| Genus: | Necturus Rafinesque, 1819 |
| Species | |
Eight species (but seetext) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Necturus is agenus of aquaticsalamanders in thefamilyProteidae.Species of the genus are native to the easternUnited States andCanada.[2][3][4] They arecommonly known aswaterdogs andmudpuppies.[2][3] Thecommon mudpuppy(N. maculosus) is probably the best-knownspecies – as an amphibian with gill slits, it is often dissected in comparative anatomy classes. The common mudpuppy has the largest distribution of any fully aquatic salamander in North America.[5]
The genusNecturus is under scrutiny byherpetologists.[2] The relationship between the species is still being studied. In 1991,Collins recommendedN. maculosus louisianensis be elevated to full species status asN. louisianensis. Originally described byViosca as a species, it is usually considered asubspecies of the common mudpuppy (N. maculosus). However, the interpretation of Collins was not largely followed.[2][6][7] A 2018 study identified two lineages (Great Lakes and Mississippi River), but did not draw conclusions about species vs. subspecies status ("Our limited samples are consistent with either interpretation." pg. 360).[8] Currently, the Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians considers theRed River mudpuppy to be a subspecies ofN. maculosus, but notes that "its taxonomic status requires further research."[9]
There are seven or eight species:[6]
| Image | Scientific name | Common Name | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Necturus alabamensis Viosca, 1937 | Alabama waterdog | Alabama. |
%2c_St._Tammany_Parish%2c_Louisian.jpg) | Necturus beyeriViosca, 1937 synonym:N. lodingiViosca, 1937 | western waterdog (formerly the Gulf Coast waterdog) or Mobile mudpuppy. These two names have been recognised as independent species in the past.[3][10] | Alabama,Louisiana,Mississippi, andTexas. |
 | Necturus lewisiBrimley, 1924 | Neuse River waterdog | North Carolina. |
_(42694782124).jpg) | Necturus maculosus louisianensis Viosca, 1938 | Red River mudpuppy. Currently considered a subspecies ofN. maculosus.[9] | southeasternKansas, southernMissouri, northeasternOklahoma,Arkansas, and northcentral Louisiana. |
| Necturus maculosus(Rafinesque, 1818) | common mudpuppy | southern section ofCanada, as far south asGeorgia. |
 | Necturus moleri Guyer et al., 2020 | Apalachicola waterdog[11] | southeastern Alabama, the Panhandle ofFlorida, and southwestern to north-central Georgia. |
| Necturus mountiGuyer et al., 2020 | Escambia waterdog[11] | southern Alabama and the Panhandle of Florida. | |
| Necturus punctatus(Gibbes, 1850) | dwarf waterdog | from southeasternVirginia to southcentral Georgia. |
Nota bene: Abinomial authority in parentheses indicates that the species was originally described in a genus other thanNecturus.
Two known fossil species,N. krausei and an unnamed species, are respectively known from thePaleocene ofSaskatchewan and from Florida during the Pleistocene.[12][13]
Necturus arepaedomorphic: adults retain larval-like morphology with external gills, two pairs of gill slits, and no eyelids. They are moderately robust and have two pairs of short but well-developed limbs and a large, laterally compressed tail. Lungs are present but small. Typical adult size is 20–25 cm (8–10 in) in total length, butNecturus maculosus is larger and may reach 40 cm (16 in).[4]
N. maculosus is brown to gray on its back with bluish black spots. There may be spots on its belly, but these spots range from heavily spotted to no spotting. There are dark red bushy gills. Four toes are present per hindlimb.[14]
Females lay eggs under rocks and other large cover objects in late spring and early summer.[15] Females guard nests at least until eggs hatch. Females forage while nest-guarding, but they may eat some of their eggs as a source of energy if other food sources are not readily available. Larvae are believed to stay under the rock as late as November.[5]
Necturus occur in surface waters, preferentially with clear water and rocky substrates without silt.N. maculosus live in lakes, rivers, streams, and creeks.[15][16] They like shallow waters with low temperatures from autumn to early spring.[15] They are most active in cold temperatures, specifically between 9.1 and 20.2 degrees Celsius.[16][17] During the day,N. maculosus seeks refuge under rocks or logs and plant debris.[15] They forage during the night and eat a variety of prey, but have preference forcrayfish.[4] During the winter and spring,N. maculosus will also eat fish.[5]
N. maculosus are good indicators of ecosystem health. This species has frequently been harmed via bycatch events (primarily passive ice fishing), chemical pollutants, and siltation.[16] Amphibian chytrid fungus (Bd) has been known to affect captiveN. maculosus, but it is currently unknown whether it has affected wildN. maculosus.[17]
Media related toNecturus at Wikimedia CommonsAuthority control databases: National |
|---|