Dwarf Siren
Class: Amphibia: Amphibians Diet: Small aquatic invertibrates
Order: Urodela: Newts and Salamanders
Size: 10 - 25 cm (4 - 9 3/4 in)
Family: Sirenidae: Sirens Conservation Status: Non-threatened
Scientific Name: Pseudobranchus striatus Habitat: ponds, swamps, ditches
Range: USA: coastal plain of South Carolina, Georgia, Florida
The smallest of its family, the dwarf siren is a slender, eel-like
creature which lives among dense, submerged vegetation. It has no hind
limbs and only tiny forelimbs, with three toes on each foot. The
external gills are retained throughout life. A nocturnal creature, the
siren feeds on the tiny invertebrate animals it finds among the plant
debris near the bottom of the water. If its habitat is in danger of
drying up, as in a drought, the siren can burrow into the mud and remain
there, dormant, for up to 2 months. Mucus produced by skin glands
prevents the body drying out during such a period. The female lays her
eggs, one at a time, on aquatic plants, and the larvae hatch out about 4
weeks later. There are about 5 races of dwarf siren over the range,
which vary in coloration and in the shade and distribution of the
stripes along the sides of the body.
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-nanfa_at_aquaria.net On Behalf
Of Moontanman_at_aol.com
Sent: Sunday, February 22, 2004 10:13 AM
To: nanfa_at_aquaria.net
Subject: Re: NANFA-- dwarf sirens in florida
In a message dated 2/22/04 6:07:48 AM Eastern Standard Time,
henryjeff_at_pure.net writes:
> What are... dwarf
> Sirens?
See this link. <A
HREF="http://mbgnet.mobot.org/fresh/wetlands/animals/siren.html">Dwarf
Siren</A> or this link for care of dwarf sirens. <A
HREF="http://www.kingsnake.com/nepa/caresheets/dwarf_siren.htm">Dwarf
Siren Care Sheet</A>
Moon
------
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