Dwarf Waterdog

Necturus punctatus

This is the smallest member of the mudpuppy family, a group of large, water-dwelling salamanders. Its fluffy gills help it get oxygen in the slow, muddy water in which it lives. Dwarf Waterdogs lurk on the bottom among plants and leaf beds and feed on insects, crustaceans, and other salamanders. Very few scientists have ever studied this species; so there are many parts of its life history that are still a mystery.

Look For : A gilled, aquatic salamander similar to the Mudpuppy but much smaller and usually unspotted; brown above, whitish below. Waterdogs belong to the mudpuppy family.

Length : 4 1/2-7".

Habitat : Slow-moving streams with muddy or sandy bottoms.

Range : Southeastern Virginia to Georgia.