Necturus is a genus of aquatic salamanders native to the eastern United States and Canada.[2][3][4] They are commonly known as waterdogs and mudpuppies.[2][3] 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.
| Necturus Temporal range: [1]
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|---|---|
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| Necturus maculosus maculosus | |
Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Proteidae |
| Genus: | Necturus Rafinesque, 1819 |
| Species | |
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8 species ( but see text) | |
| Synonyms[2] | |
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Taxonomy
The genus is under scrutiny by herpetologists.[2] The relationship between the species is still being studied. In 1991 Collins elevated N. maculosus louisianensis to full species status, usually considered a subspecies of the common mudpuppy (N. maculosus), but his interpretation was not largely followed.[2][5][6] However, a 2018 study confirmed it as a distinct species, with Amphibian Species of the World following these results, although other authorities do not.[7][8][9]
Species
There are seven to eight species:[5]
- Necturus alabamensis Viosca, 1937 – Alabama waterdog
- Necturus beyeri Viosca, 1937 syn. N. lodingi Viosca, 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]
- Necturus lewisi Brimley, 1924 – Neuse River waterdog
- Necturus louisianensis Viosca, 1938 – Red River waterdog. Sometimes considered a subspecies of N. maculosus.[7][9]
- Necturus maculosus (Rafinesque, 1818) – common mudpuppy
- Necturus moleri Guyer et al., 2020 – Apalachicola waterdog
- Necturus mounti Guyer et al., 2020 – Escambia waterdog
- Necturus punctatus (Gibbes, 1850) – dwarf waterdog
Two known fossil species, N. krausei and an unnamed species, are respectively known from the Paleocene of Saskatchewan and from Florida during the Pleistocene.[11][12]
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 20–25 cm (8–10 in) in total length, but Necturus punctatus is larger and may reach 40 cm (16 in).[4]
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.[4]
References
- ^ http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=37356
- ^ a b c d e Frost, Darrel R. (2019). "Necturus Rafinesque, 1819". Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ a b c "North American Herpetofauna: Amphibia: Caudata". Centre for North American Herpetology. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ a b c Vitt, Laurie J. & Caldwell, Janalee P. (2014). Herpetology: An Introductory Biology of Amphibians and Reptiles (4th ed.). Academic Press. pp. 463–465.
- ^ a b "Proteidae". AmphibiaWeb. University of California, Berkeley. 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2019.
- ^ Petranka, J.W. (1998). Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press ISBN 1588343081.
- ^ a b "Necturus louisianensis Viosca, 1938 | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- ^ Chabarria, Ryan E.; Murray, Christopher M.; Moler, Paul E.; Bart, Henry L.; Crother, Brian I.; Guyer, Craig (2018). "Evolutionary insights into the North American Necturus beyeri complex (Amphibia: Caudata) based on molecular genetic and morphological analyses". Journal of Zoological Systematics and Evolutionary Research. 56 (3): 352–363. doi:10.1111/jzs.12203. ISSN 1439-0469.
- ^ a b "AmphibiaWeb - Necturus maculosus". amphibiaweb.org. Retrieved 2021-12-16.
- ^ "Necturus beyeri Viosca, 1937 | Amphibian Species of the World". amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org. Retrieved 2021-12-17.
- ^ "Fossilworks: Necturus krausei". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 17 December 2021.
- ^ "PBDB". Necturus Rafinesque (mudpuppy).
External links
Media related to Necturus at Wikimedia Commons
