Hurter — Herpetology of Missouri. ^5 



1. Necturus maculosus Rafinesque. Water Dog. Mud 

 Puppy. 



Salamandra, Proteus tetradactylns, Sirena maculosa, Triton lateralis, 

 Menohranchus tetradactylus, Menohranchus lateralis, MenohrancMis 

 maculatus, Proteus maculatus, Necturus lateralis, Furchenmolch, 

 Necturus maculatus. 



Description. — Head flat, oval; snout truncated. A groove along the 

 middle of the back and a well-marked gular fold. Large bushy gills, 

 forming three tufts on each side of the head. The eyes, situated 

 anterior to the middle of the head, are rather small. Nostrils small 

 and situated near the border of the lips. The upper lip is rather full 

 and has a thin edge which overhangs the lower lip, concealing the 

 posterior part of it. The tongue does not reach the symphysis of the 

 lower jaw, and is obtusely rounded in front and considerably free 

 anteriorly. The internal nares form an oblique slit on each side and 

 lie obliquely between the vomerine and pterygoid teeth. The premaxil- 

 lary teeth are in two straight, divergent series, which unite in front 

 in a round point, and form not quite a right angle. The vomerine 

 series of teeth is parallel with the premaxillary. Limbs short, about 

 equal in length, digits slightly depressed. Tail much compressed, 

 finned, with the end rounded. Skin smooth. 



Color. — Light brown to dark brov/n, lighter beneath with more or less 

 distinct roundish black spots. Soles and palms yellowish. In young 

 specimens, less than 155 mm. long, a dark brownish band passes along 

 the canthus rostralis through the eye and along the sides to near the 

 end of the tail. 



Size. — The largest specimen in my collection is 390 mm. long; the 

 smallest, a larva, 20 mm. long. 



Habitat. — The species ranges throughout the tributa- 

 ries of the Great Lakes, the Mississippi River, and Lake 

 Champlain. Mr. R. R. Rowley of Louisiana, Pike Co., 

 Mo., presented me with a fine adult specimen from that 

 neighborhood. I can record the capture of this species 

 from the following counties and rivers: — Butler, Stod- 

 dard, St. Louis, and Jackson Counties; Mississippi, Mis- 

 souri, Meramec, and St. Francis Rivers, and Spring 

 River in Jasper Co. 



Habits, — In Spring and Fall this species is often caught 

 by fishermen with hook and line baited with worms. — 

 Feb. 19; Apr. 3 ; Oct. 6 ; Nov. 23. They feed upon worms 

 and larvae of water insects. I had two adult specimens 



