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Lesser Siren

Lesser siren is a long, slender, aquatic amphibian occurring in the United States and Mexico. The creature is nocturnal spending the day hidden in the mud and debris at the bottom of slow-moving, shallow bodies of water.



    Kingdom Animalia
    Phylum Chordata
    Class Amphibia
    Subclass Lissamphibia
    Order Caudata
    Family Sirenidae
    Genus Siren
    Scientific Name Siren intermedia


    Other Names Two-legged eel, dwarf siren, mud eel
    Size 18-68 cm
    Color Light grayish green to olive or black with small non-uniform markings
    Distribution Eastern United States, northeastern Mexico
    Habitat Slow-moving and shallow waters of marshes, ponds, canals, and ditches with abundant aquatic vegetation
    Diet Aquatic invertebrates like insect larvae, worms, crustaceans, and snails
    Hibernation Fact Undergoes aestivation
    Predators Fish, wading birds
    Breeding Season Spring
    Mode of Reproduction Oviparous (egg laying)
    Clutch Size 12 to more than 300 eggs
    Incubation Period 45 to 76 days
    Reproductive Age 2 to 3 years of age
    Average Lifespan 6.3 years in captivity
    IUCN Conservation Status Least Concern

    Lesser Siren Pictures Gallery

    Published on May 21st 2017 by under Salamanders. Article was last reviewed on 30th September 2019.

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