Identification
This large aquatic
salamander, commonly known as the Mudpuppy or Waterdog, has bushy maroon external
gills behind the head. In warm or oxygen-poor water, the gills are more extensive
and more brightly colored, whereas they are smaller and paler in oxygen-rich
water. The majority of the body is gray or brownish-gray with blue-black blotches.
The belly is lighter, generally pale gray or yellow, and may sometimes have
dark spots. The tail fin is often tinged with orange or red. There are irregular
dark stripes running through the small eyes, and each foot has four toes. Colors
fade with age, and some older specimens may be almost black. Young and larvae
can be striped with red, yellow, or dark stripes, while others are uniformly
gray.
Distribution and Status
The Mudpuppy can be found from New England and adjacent southern Quebec west
through the Ohio valley on to southern Manitoba, south through the Mississippi
Valley to Missouri, Tennessee and North Carolina, and to northern Georgia, Mississippi
and Alabama. The Mudpuppy is found in all eight Midwestern states. It is considered
a species of Special Concern in Ohio and Indiana, and is listed as State Endangered
in Iowa. Although they can be locally common, the Mudpuppy has disappeared from
many common locations.
Ecology
Although they can swim quite well, the Mudpuppy tends to live on the bottom
of its aquatic habitat, burrowing under submerged objects. The species can be
found in permanent bodies of water, that are at least three feet deep, such
as lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.
Threats and Management Issues
Due to their odd appearance, the Mudpuppy has been falsely labeled as dangerous,
and people that catch them while fishing will often kill them. The species is
also sensitive to chemicals, and population declines have been noted from the
Great Lakes where chemicals were used to control lamprey populations.
Resources
General reference guides and websites.
Reference guides and websites specific to Amphibians.
Links to more information on the Mudpuppy outside the Herp Center
Illinois Natural History Survey
University of Michigan Museum of Zoology
Bruce Kingsbury, Director
Center for Reptile and Amphibian Conservation and Management
Science Building
Indiana-Purdue University
2101 East Coliseum Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN 46805-1499