Necturus beyeri

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Gulf Coast Waterdog
Conservation status
Least Concern
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Lissamphibia Order: Caudata Family: Proteidae Genus: Necturus Species: N. beyeri
Binomial name
Necturus beyeri Viosca, 1937

The Gulf Coast Waterdog, Speckled Waterdog or Beyer’s Waterdog (Necturus beyeri) is a species of aquatic salamander native to the United States, in Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

Contents 1 Description 2 Behavior 3 Taxonomy 4 References

[edit] Description

Gulf coast waterdogs grow to lengths of 6-8.5 inches and are an overall brown in color, with lighter brown and black speckling. Due to their entirely aquatic nature, their legs are small in size, with four toes. They have external gills, which look like feathery appendages on either side of their heads. They have a paddle-shaped, flattened tail.

[edit] Behavior

They have lungs as well as gills and they are typically found hiding among rocks in clear, spring fed streams with sandy bottoms. They will consume almost any small aquatic invertebrate they can catch.

[edit] Taxonomy

There has been significant controversy over the taxonomy of in the genus Necturus, particularly in regard to N. alabamensis, N. beyeri, and N. maculosus. However, electrophoretic evidence suggests N. beyeri is a distinct species (Petranka, 1998).

[edit] References

• Hammerson (2004). Necturus beyeri. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. Retrieved on 09 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map and a brief justification of why this species is of least concern.
• IUCN RangeMap: Necturus beyeri
• Herps of Texas: Necturus beyeri
• Amphibian Species of the World: Necturus beyeri