AMPHIBIA 



THE MUD-PUPPY, Necturus maculosus Rafinesque 



247 



North America is fortunate in having this primitive 

 salamander within its boundaries, mostly through the Great 

 Lake Region. Necturus lives among the rocks along the 

 shores of lakes and streams, and is commonly, though 

 incorrectly, called a " lizard" by fishermen. 



Self-maintenance. Necturus (Fig. 97) hunts at night 

 for crayfishes, insects, worms, fishes and their eggs (C). 

 Its eyes are small, poorly developed, and of little or no 



A B c DC 



FIG. 97. The Mud Puppy, Necturus maculosus. A, young; B, swimming; 

 C, catching a crayfish. D, eggs; E, larva with yolk sac nearly absorbed. 



value for procuring food, but the sense of taste is acute and 

 generally distributed in the skin. Necturus is able to 

 discover small animals concealed in the crevices between 

 rocks, and devours them whole. The jaws are armed with 

 double rows of fine pointed teeth for holding the struggling 

 victims of nocturnal forays. Necturus usually creeps about 

 slowly, using the small legs, but when so inclined may 



