Amphiuma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Amphiuma |
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| Two-toed Amphiuma | |
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Amphiumidae
Gray, 1825
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Amphiuma
Garden, 1821
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Amphiuma means |
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Amphiuma is a group of amazing salamanders that live in water. They are the only living members of their special family, called Amphiumidae. Sometimes people mistakenly call them "conger eels" or "congo snakes" because of how they look. Did you know that amphiumas have one of the largest amounts of DNA in the living world? It's about 25 times more than what a human has!
Contents
What Do Amphiumas Look Like?
Amphiumas have a very long body, almost like an eel. They are usually grey or black in color. Even though they are salamanders, their legs are super tiny. An amphiuma can grow to be over 116 cm (46 in) long, but its legs are only about 2 cm (0.79 in)! This is why people often confuse them with eels or snakes. They also don't have eyelids or a tongue, which is pretty unusual.
How Do Amphiumas Grow?
Female amphiumas lay their eggs in wet mud. After laying them, the mother amphiuma coils her body around the eggs. She stays there for about five months, protecting them until they hatch. When the baby amphiumas, called larvae, first hatch, they have special external gills. These gills help them breathe underwater. After about four months, these external gills disappear, and their lungs start to work, allowing them to breathe air.
Where Do Amphiumas Live?
Today, you can find amphiumas living in the southeastern part of the United States. They prefer wet, swampy areas.
In the past, amphiumas lived in more places around the world. Scientists have found Fossils from the Pleistocene time that show they once lived in Europe too! This tells us their habitat has changed over many years.
How Do Amphiumas Behave?
During the day, amphiumas like to hide among plants in the water. They are shy and stay out of sight. But when night comes, they become active and go hunting for food.
What Do Amphiumas Eat?
Amphiumas are predators. They hunt and eat many different animals. Their diet includes frogs, small snakes, fish, crustaceans (like crayfish), insects, and sometimes even other amphiumas! They hunt in a unique way, similar to the Axolotl. They use a strong vacuum force to suck their prey into their stomachs. While they are usually hidden, amphiumas can become aggressive if they feel threatened.
What Are the Different Types of Amphiumas?
There are three main types, or species, of amphiumas. You can tell them apart by counting the number of toes on their tiny feet:
- Three-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)
- Two-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma means)
- One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter)
Images for kids
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Musculature of upper and lower Jaw in Amphiuma. Specimen from the Pacific Lutheran University Natural History collection, dissection and photos by Misty Lang and Nina Thach
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Amphiuma lung with a magnified portion of the lung to show the amphiuma vascular tissue.
See also
In Spanish: Anfiumas para niños
