Mudpuppy facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mudpuppy |
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| Necturus maculosus | |
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Proteidae
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A mudpuppy or waterdog is a type of salamander that lives entirely in water. These interesting creatures belong to a special group of animals called the family Proteidae. They are called mudpuppies because they sometimes make a sound that sounds like a dog barking!
Mudpuppies are part of the genus Necturus. You can find them living in the cool waters of Canada and the Midwestern United States.
Contents
What is a Mudpuppy?
Mudpuppies are amphibians, but unlike many other salamanders, they spend their whole lives underwater. They are known for their feathery, red external gills, which look like a fancy collar around their neck. These gills help them breathe underwater.
They have a flat head, a long body, and a tail that is flattened from side to side, which helps them swim. Mudpuppies can grow to be quite large, sometimes over 15 inches (38 centimeters) long.
Where do Mudpuppies Live?
Mudpuppies prefer to live in clear, cool water. You can find them in rivers, lakes, ponds, and even large streams. They like places with plenty of rocks, logs, or plants where they can hide.
They are mostly active at night, searching for food. During the day, they often hide under rocks or in muddy areas at the bottom of the water.
What do Mudpuppies Eat?
Mudpuppies are carnivores, which means they eat other animals. They are not picky eaters and will munch on almost anything they can catch. Their diet includes small fish, insects, snails, worms, and even other small amphibians.
They use their keen sense of smell to find food in the dark waters.
How do Mudpuppies Breathe?
One of the most unique things about mudpuppies is their external gills. Most amphibians lose their gills as they grow up and start breathing with lungs or through their skin. However, mudpuppies keep their gills their entire lives.
These bright red gills are full of tiny blood vessels that take oxygen from the water. This allows mudpuppies to stay underwater all the time. They also have small lungs, but their gills are their main way of breathing.
Life Cycle
Mudpuppies usually lay their eggs in the spring or early summer. The female mudpuppy will lay her eggs under rocks, logs, or other sheltered spots in the water. She often guards the eggs until they hatch.
When the young mudpuppies hatch, they look like smaller versions of the adults, complete with their external gills. They grow slowly and can live for many years, sometimes up to 20 years in the wild.
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