Characteristics:
A long, up to 18in, slender salamander. They are generally dark brown, black, or olive in color with small dark and light flecks. Larvae have an orangish stripe on the lower jaw as well as along their back. Larvae also have a more pronounced tail fin. External gills as well as no hind legs makes this a very unique looking salamander.
*Note: Lesser sirens in this area are considered to be the subspecies called the western lesser siren (S. i. nettingi).
Habitat:
Found in shallow, still bodies of water such as cypress swamps, sloughs, lowland ponds, and ditches.
Behavior:
The lesser siren is a fully aquatic salamander, spending its entire life in the water. They are noctournal and spend the days burried in mud and vegetation on the bottom of the water. These salamanders remain active nearly year round but in spots where the water is only temporary, they will burrow and produce a cocoon until the water returns. Though they are quite common throughout their range they are rarely seen due to their secretive habits.
Personal Remarks:
This salamander has long eluded us, but we finally have them figured out. It really is quite a treat to see one of these up close. They look more like an eel than they do a salamander. Now that we have a good method for finding these guys down, we hope that we will be seeing them much more often.
A long, up to 18in, slender salamander. They are generally dark brown, black, or olive in color with small dark and light flecks. Larvae have an orangish stripe on the lower jaw as well as along their back. Larvae also have a more pronounced tail fin. External gills as well as no hind legs makes this a very unique looking salamander.
*Note: Lesser sirens in this area are considered to be the subspecies called the western lesser siren (S. i. nettingi).
Habitat:
Found in shallow, still bodies of water such as cypress swamps, sloughs, lowland ponds, and ditches.
Behavior:
The lesser siren is a fully aquatic salamander, spending its entire life in the water. They are noctournal and spend the days burried in mud and vegetation on the bottom of the water. These salamanders remain active nearly year round but in spots where the water is only temporary, they will burrow and produce a cocoon until the water returns. Though they are quite common throughout their range they are rarely seen due to their secretive habits.
Personal Remarks:
This salamander has long eluded us, but we finally have them figured out. It really is quite a treat to see one of these up close. They look more like an eel than they do a salamander. Now that we have a good method for finding these guys down, we hope that we will be seeing them much more often.
