Identification
The Three-toed Amphiuma has an eel-like appearance and can reach lengths of
over 30 inches. They possess two pairs of tiny legs each having three toes.
The Three-toed Amphiuma is dark brown on the back and pale gray on the belly.
It also has a dark patch on the throat.
Distribution and Status
Three-Toed Amphiumas can be found from southeast Missouri and adjacent Kentucky
through extreme southeast Oklahoma to the Gulf of Mexico. Within the Midwest
the Three-toed Amphiuma is found only in Missouri, where it is imperiled.
Ecology
Amphiumas require clean water and a mucky bottom, and can be found in bayous, ditches, oxbows, lakes, ponds and other unpolluted bodies of water. They spend much of their time in burrows, emerging at night to forage. Crayfish and earthworms, as wells as insects, make up the bulk of their diet. During droughts Amphiumas are able to survive buried in their burrows for many months without feeding.
Threats and Management Issues
Loss of wetland habitat is a major threat to the continued existence of the
Three-toed Amphiuma. Due largely to anatomical design, Amphiumas cannot move
to a more suitable wetland once one has been altered. Instead, their dispersal
abilities rely on temporary aquatic connections that form after periods of heavy
rainfall. Because of this fact many researchers believe that further isolation,
and loss of wetlands will in all likelihood eliminate Amphiumas from many temporary
ponds across their range.
Resources
General reference guides
and websites.
Reference guides and websites specific to Amphibians.
Links to more information on the Three-toed Amphiuma outside the Herp Center
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