Amphiuma pholeter facts for kids
Quick facts for kids One-toed amphiuma |
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Amphiuma
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| Species: |
pholeter
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The one-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter) is a special kind of salamander. It looks a bit like an eel and lives in water. You can find it in the southeastern part of the United States. Scientists didn't know about this animal until 1950. It's quite rare to see in the wild, so we are still learning a lot about it.
What Does It Look Like?
The one-toed amphiuma lives in water. Its skin can be gray-black or purplish-brown. Unlike other amphiuma species, its back and belly are the same color.
You can also tell it apart by its head shape. It has a cone-shaped head. The most unique thing is its toes! It has only one toe on each foot. Other amphiuma species have two or three toes. This amphiuma is the smallest of its kind. Adults are usually about 8.5 inches (220 mm) long.
Where Does It Live?
One-toed amphiumas are mostly found in certain areas. These include parts of the Florida panhandle. They also live in the very southern part of Georgia. You can find them in southern Alabama too.
How Does It Behave?
One-toed amphiumas are usually active at night. This is when they search for food. They like to eat small animals without backbones. These include crayfish, annelid worms, and insect larvae. Sometimes, they might eat small fish or amphibian larvae.
They prefer water that moves slowly or stands still. They like shallow areas with muddy bottoms. They also enjoy places with lots of water plants. You can often find them in the soft mud of swampy areas. They also live along the edges of rivers fed by coastal springs.
Scientists don't know much about how they lay eggs. No one has ever seen their eggs or newly hatched babies.
