forms inhabiting North America. The 



adults of this suborder lose the gills when at- 

 taining maturity. Two blind forms {Typhlomolge 

 and Typhlotriton) of caves and artesian wells of 

 the West, also belong to the Mutabilia. The last 

 suborder of North American Caudata is MEANTES, 

 comprising two forms, the peculiar Siren of the 

 muddy ditches of the Southeastern U. S., and the 

 equally interesting Pseudobranchus striatvs of the 

 swamps of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 

 This suborder differs in various points of anatomy 

 from the two preceding. 



PROTEIDA (Suborder). 

 NECTURiDAE (Family). 

 Necturus (Genus). 



1. Necturus maculosus (Rafinesque). MUD- 

 PUPPY. 



The Mud-puppy is an entirely aquatic, noc- 

 turnal species. Its large size, coupled with the 

 fact that it retains its gills throughout life, makes 

 it unique among North American salamanders. 

 It lays its eggs in "nests", which are usually shal- 

 low excavations beneath a sheltering stone or 

 plank in the clear waters of the large streams 

 which it inhabits. The female guards the young. 

 This species sometimes attains a length of 17 

 indies. 



MUTABILIA (Suborder). 

 AMPHIUMIDAE (Family). 

 Amphiuma (Genus). 

 2. Amphiuma means Garden. CONGO EEL. 



