This North American Salamander differs from other Salamanders in many ways. For example, Mudpuppy protects her eggs after laying Them. Instead of the usual five toes, She only has four toes on each foot. In addition, Mudpuppy breeds in the fall instead of the spring.
The greatest difference between Mudpuppy and other Salamanders is that She lives solely in the water. She does not come on to the land. Her gills act as lungs, while her lungs act as a swim bladder. Her most distinctive characteristics are her frilled gills and swimming tail fin.
Much mystery surrounds Mudpuppy. For example, few people know how She lives. In spite of her name, Mudpuppy does not like the mud, preferring the clear water of lakes and rivers. Mudpuppy makes her home under large flat rocks or in underwater holes of riverbanks. At night, She hunts for her favorite food—Crayfish. To blend in the moonlight, She changes her grey dappled body to soft white.
For years, people have told fantastic stories about Mudpuppy. Because She is so ugly looking, people thought She was poisonous. Other people said She combs her “hair” with one of her forefeet. Because Mudpuppy is active in the winter, people fishing on ice-covered lakes have sometimes mistaken Her for a strange monster. Meanwhile, other people told tales of a giant (6 feet (2 meters)) pinkish animal, with moose-like horns, swimming in creeks.
In general, people have mixed feelings about Mudpuppy. She helps rice farmers in the Mississippi River Valley by eating Crayfish that graze on rice crops. Meanwhile, Mississippi River fishermen dislike Mudpuppy because She eats too many Crayfish, which they like to use for bait.
Known as “The Giant Amphibian of the River”, Mudpuppy follows her own voice. Radically different from other Salamanders, She lives a rich life in her water world. Follow her example of listening to your inner voice, and live your own life.
In North America, people also call Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus) “Waterdog”. However “Waterdog” is also the name of close relatives of Mudpuppy: Dwarf Waterdog (Necturus punctatus) and Neuse River Waterdog (Necturus lewisi). Mudpuppy is also closely related to Olm (Proteus anguinus), a cave dwelling salamander of Southeastern Europe.
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Va. Carper
May 1, 2008