Two-toed Amphiuma

About the Two-toed Amphiuma

The two-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma means) is an aquatic salamander widely distributed in the southeastern United States. It is commonly, but incorrectly, called "congo snake", "conger eel" or the "blind eel". Two-toed amphiumas are the most prominent in the Amphiumidae family and the longest salamander species in the United States, that can grow from 39 to 1,042 g (1.4 to 36.8 oz) in mass and from 34.8 to 116 cm (13.7 to 45.7 in) in length. They have four vestigial legs that end in two toes; the number of toes is one of the primary differences between Amphiuma means and its relatives, the one-toed and three-toed amphiumas. Additional genetic studies have been conducted on the three species; genetic distance estimates suggest that there is high levels of similarity between two-toed amphiumas and three-toed amphiumas, and much greater dissimilarity between the one-toed amphiuma and the two-toed amphiuma. The head is pointed and wedge-shaped, and the eyes are small. Adults retain a single gill slit on each side of the head. They are black, dark grey or dark brown in color. Two-toed amphiumas tend to be unicolored. Their dark dorsum contrasts with their slightly lighter ventrum... Wikipedia →