Amphiuma pholeter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter) is an aquatic, eel-like salamander native to the south-eastern United States.
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[edit] Description
The One-toed Amphiuma is a mostly aquatic, black to dark brown salamander. It can be distinguished from its relatives by its smaller size, as well as the fact that One-toed Amphiumas have one toe on each foot as opposed to the two or three toes of the other members of its genus. This eel-like salamander reaches an average size of around 8.5 inches (220mm). It is the smallest species in the genus Amphiuma.
[edit] Distribution
One-toed Amphiumas are found in several parts of America, such as Florida, southern Georgia, and possibly south-eastern Alabama.
[edit] Behavior
One-toed Amphiumas are carnivores active mostly at night. Their behavior is similar to that of the other members of its genus, preferring slow moving or stagnant, shallow water with either muddy bottoms or areas with weedy vegetation. Like all Amphiumas, One-toed Amphiumas eat small, aquatic invertebrates such as crayfish, annelid worms, insect larvae, and occasionally fish or amphibian larvae.
[edit] References
Mount, Robert H. 1975. The Reptiles and Amphibians of Alabama. The University of Alabama Press: Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
