Lesser Siren
Siren intermedia

Appearance: An aquatic salamander that resembles an eel. 18-38cm (7-15in) total length.  It has prominent external gills and noticeable forelimbs with four toes on each foot. Generally dark in color, or lighter with visible black spots on back.  Belly unmarked and lighter in color than back.  Often with a white lip across snout. Adult Lesser Siren and juvenile Greater Siren can easily be confused, even by experts. The only sure way to tell these species apart is by counting costal grooves, Greater Siren have 36-40, Lesser Siren have 31-35.

Habits and Habitat: Shallow water lakes, ponds, and ditches.  It is often found burrowed in mud or thick mats of vegetation.  They are suction feeders that feed mainly on invertebrates, but aquatic vegetation and muck can often be found in the gut due to the nature of their feeding.

Reproduction/Egg Description: Winter breeders, with oviposition occuring from December-May, depending on location. Eggs laid in masses near vegetation. Clutch size ranges from 100-700 eggs.

Distribution and Abundance: Southeastern coastal plain, Virginia to Alabama. Locally abundant in some areas, but difficult to sample.

SE ARMI Index Sites: Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge.