Distribution, Ecology, and Feeding Habits 

 of Necturus lewisi (Brimley) 



Alvin L. Braswell and Ray E. Ashton, Jr. ' 

 North Carolina State Museum of Natural History, 



P. O. Box 27647, Raleigh, North Carolina 2761 1 



ABSTRACT. — The Neuse River Waterdog, Necturus lewisi Brimley, 

 is a totally aquatic salamander endemic to the Neuse and Tar River 

 drainages of North Carolina. A distributional survey, conducted from 

 December 1978 through May 1979 and January through April 1980, 

 found N. lewisi at 32% of 361 sites surveyed. Animals predominantly 

 occurred in streams wider than 15 m, deeper than 100 cm, and with a 

 main channel flow rate greater than 10 cm/ sec, and were found in 

 streams from the headwaters of both drainages to the vicinity of salt- 

 water influence near the coast. None were found in lakes or ponds. 

 Necturus punctatus was sympatric with N. lewisi at 19 sites along the 

 Fall Line. Capture success was highest at sites where the substrate con- 

 sisted mostly of clay or hard soil substrate; however, N. lewisi were 

 captured on all common substrate types. Some areas with potential 

 effluent problems yielded no specimens. Activity away from cover was 

 almost strictly nocturnal, and rising water and high turbidity seemed 

 to stimulate activity. No animals were trapped when minimum stream 

 temperatures rose above 18° C. Both larvae and adult N. lewisi 

 appeared to be opportunistic feeders. Larvae ate a variety of small 

 aquatic arthropods, while adults expanded their diet to include other 

 aquatic and some terrestrial invertebrates, along with both aquatic and 

 terrestrial vertebrates. Sympatric N. punctatus had a similar diet 

 except for the terrestrial components. 



The wide distribution of N. lewisi in the Neuse and Tar River 

 basins argues against Endangered or Threatened status at this time, 

 but a conservation status of Special Concern may be warranted due to 

 the animal's need for larger streams with relatively clean, flowing 

 water. 



INTRODUCTION 



Yarrow's (1882) listing of Necturus lateralis (- Necturus maculosus) 

 from Kinston and Tarboro was the first report of any Necturus from the 

 Neuse and Tar River drainages. Brimley (1896) said Necturus maculatus 

 {- N. maculosus) was caught by fishermen in the spring in the Raleigh 

 area. In 1915, Brimley added Chapel Hill to the range of this sala- 

 mander, but no voucher specimen has been located to support a locality 

 in the Cape Fear River drainage. Brimley (1920) discussed 21 specimens 

 of N. maculosus caught on hook and line in the Neuse River from 



1 Present address: International Expeditions, Inc., 1776 Independence 

 Court, Birmingham, Alabama 35216 



Brimleyana No. 10:13-35. February 1985. 13 



