Greater Siren
Siren lacertina
28.5364, -81.0176
Field Notes
Description:
This is the largest of the sirens and they are known to exceed three feet (.9 m) in length. Sirens resemble overgrown larvae. They have long eel-like bodies and external gills. They are olive to black in color with a lighter belly. Young sirens have a light stripe on their sides, which is lost over time. They lack hind limbs and have relatively weak fore limbs that are not used in swimming or crawling. Their tail is laterally flattened and appears to have a fin around the edge.
Habitat:
Orlando Wetlands. There are only three species of sirens. This species ranges from Virginia south along the Atlantic coast through Florida and into the gulf coast of Alabama.
This fully aquatic siren is found in a greater variety of habitats than the other sirens, including ditches, streams, rivers, swamps, lakes, ponds, and some bays. They spend most of their time buried in mud or sand.
Notes:
Sirens are generally regarded as the most primitive of living salamanders although their ecology and natural history are poorly known. They lack hindlimbs and are completely aquatic throughout their lives, as evidenced by their external gills.
This salamander can aestivate to survive. If the siren’s body of water dries up it can burrow in the mud bottom and secrete a cocoon of mucus and shed skin that covers its body to prevent water loss. All body functions slow down, some by 70 percent, and it can live for more than a year, until the pond refills with water.
When grasped, they commonly emit a yelping sound.
Comments (0)
Be the first to comment
Sign in to comment