''Necturus'' is a
genus of aquatic
salamanders native to the eastern United States and Canada.
[ The common mudpuppy ''(N. maculosus)'' is probably the best-known species – as an amphibian with gill slits, it is often dissected in comparative anatomy classes.
]
Taxonomy
The genus is under scrutiny by herpetologists.[ The relationship between the species is still being studied. In 1991 Collins elevated ''N. maculosus louisianensis'' to full species status, usually considered a ]subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of the common mudpuppy (''N. maculosus''), but his interpretation was not largely followed.[Petranka, J.W. (1998). Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press .] However, a 2018 study confirmed it as a distinct species, with Amphibian Species of the World
''Amphibian Species of the World 6.1: An Online Reference'' (ASW) is a herpetology database. It lists the names of frogs, salamanders and other amphibians, which scientists first described each species and what year, and the animal's known range. ...
following these results, although other authorities do not.''
Species
There are seven to eight species:[
Two known fossil species, '' N. krausei'' and an unnamed species, are respectively known from the Paleocene of Saskatchewan and from Florida during the Pleistocene.]
Description
''Necturus'' are paedomorphic: 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 in total length, but ''Necturus punctatus'' is larger and may reach .
Ecology
''Necturus'' occur in surface waters, preferentially with clear water and rocky substrates without silt. They forage during the night and eat a variety of prey, but have preference for crayfish
Crayfish are freshwater crustaceans belonging to the clade Astacidea, which also contains lobsters. In some locations, they are also known as crawfish, craydids, crawdaddies, crawdads, freshwater lobsters, mountain lobsters, rock lobsters, mu ...
.
References
External links
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{{Taxonbar, from=Q641652
Proteidae
Amphibian genera
Extant Paleocene first appearances
Taxa named by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque