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Proteidae - Mudpuppies, Waterdogs

 

Classification

 Kingdom: Animalia
 Phylum: Chordata
 Subphylum: Vertebrata
 Class: Amphibia
 Order: Caudata 
 Family: Proteidae
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mudpuppy There are six species in this family. They are neotenic. That means they retain the characteristics they had when the were larvae. They are found in North America and southeastern Europe. The species in this family are aquatic. They have feathery, red, maroon, or purple external gills and a fin-like tail. Most species are 8-15 inches in length. They live in streams, rivers, and lakes and spend the day hidden under rocks, logs, or other debris. They hunt for invertebrates at night. Their eggs are fertilized inside the female. She lays her eggs in water under a log or a stone. In some species in this family, the male or the female may guard the eggs. One species in this family, the olm, lives in limestone caves in southeastern Europe.

World Status Key
Least ConcernLeast Concern Near ThreatenedNear Threatened VulnerableVulnerable EndangeredEndangered Critically EndangeredCritically Endangered extinct in the wildExtinct in the Wild extinctExtinct
Status and range is taken from ICUN Redlist. If no status is listed, there is not enough data to establish status.

US Status Key
Threatened in US Threatened in US Threatened in New Hampshire Threatened in NH Endangered in US Endangered in US Endangered in NH Endangered in NH Introduced Introduced
Status taken from US Fish and Wildlife and NH Fish and Game

Location
Africa Africa Asia Asia Australia Australia/Oceania Europe Europe North America North America South America South America New Hampshire Species NH More Info Click for More Info picture Click for Image

New Hampshire Species

 

 North American Species

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus Least Concern North America More Info   Alabama Waterdog - Necturus alabamensis Endangered North America More Info
Gulf Coast Waterdog - Necturus beyeri Least Concern North America More Info
Neuse River Waterdog - Necturus lewisi Near Threatened North America More Info
Dwarf Waterdog - Necturus punctatus Least Concern North America More Info
   
   

Other Species Around the World

Olm - Proteus anguinus Vulnerable Europe More Info    

Additional Information

Key: profile Profile Photos Photos Video Video Audio Audio

Alabama Waterdog - Necturus alabamensis Photos Endangered North America
The Alabama waterdog is only found in the Black Warrior River drainage system in Alabama.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Alabama Waterdog - Necturus alabamensis profile Photos Endangered North America
The Alabama waterdog is active at night.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Dwarf Waterdog - Necturus punctatus profile Photos Least Concern North America
The dwarf waterdog is found in slow moving streams and swamps in the southeastern U.S. from southern Virginia to Georgia.
Source: Savannah River Ecology Lab Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Gulf Coast Waterdog - Necturus beyeri profile Photos Least Concern North America
The Gulf Coast waterdog is found along the Gulf Coast from southeastern Texas to western Georgia and northwestern Florida.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No

Gulf Coast Waterdog - Necturus beyeri profile Photos Least Concern North America
The Gulf Coast waterdog is 6-8.5 inches in length.
Source: Jacksonville Zoo Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
The mudpuppy is found from southern Manitoba, Canada east to southern New Brunswick, Canada and south to Oklahoma, Louisiana, northern Alabama and Georgia, western North Carolina, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, and southern New York and western Connecticut. It is found in New Hampshire, where it it is thought to be an introduced species. In New Hampshire, it is found in the Connecticut River and its tributaries.
Source: National Geographic Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
In New Hampshire, the mudpuppy is thought to be an introduced species. It is found in the Connecticut River and its tributaries.
Source: New Hampshire Fish and Game Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
The mudpuppy never leaves the water.
Source: Animal Diversity Web Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
The mudpuppy lives on the bottoms of lakes, rivers, and streams.
Source: AmphibiaWeb Intended Audience: General Reading Level: High School Teacher Section: No

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
The mudpuppy is around 13 inches in length.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School

Mudpuppy - Necturus maculosus profile Photos Least Concern North America New Hampshire Species
The mudpuppy has feathery red gills on the sides of its head.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes

Neuse River Waterdog - Necturus lewisi profile Photos Near Threatened North America
The Neuse River waterdog is found in the Neuse River watershed in North Carolina.
Source: EDGE Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Neuse River Waterdog - Necturus lewisi profile Photos Near Threatened North America
Adult Neuse River waterdogs can be up to 11 inches in length.
Source: Salamanders of North Carolina Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: No

Olm - Proteus anguinus profile Photos Video Vulnerable Europe
The olm is also known as the cave salamander.
Source: Arkive Intended Audience: General Reading Level: Middle School Teacher Section: Yes