#amphiuma

One-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma pholeter), family Amphiumidae, found in parts of the FL panhandle, extreme southern GA, and southern AL.

Amphiumas are large aquatic eel-like salamanders, with 4 very small limbs.

As adults, they have lungs and breathe air.

This species grows to an av. length of around 8.5 in.

Feed mainly on aquatic invertebrates, and occsionally small vertbrates

Active mainly at night.

May 2025's Tiny Reptile and Mini Amphibian pin designs: Armadillo Girdled Lizard and Two-Toed Amphiuma 🦎

These designs are available as pins and stickers on my Patreon until the end of day today and will ship in May!

Fast Fauna Fact #23 - Three-Toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)

Family: Amphiuma Family (Amphiumidae)

IUCN Conservation Status: Least Concern

Though eel-like in appearance (with long, slimy bodies, vertically-flattened paddle-like tails and internal gills that are retained even in adulthood) the three species of amphiumas are actually large salamanders adapted to a fully-aquatic way of life, and can be distinguished from one another by the number of toes at the end of their tiny vestigial legs (either three, two, or a single small nub of a toe.) Endemic to the southern USA, Three-Toed Amphiumas live mainly in densely vegetated swamps, lakes and slow-moving rivers where they spend much of the day hidden in burrows or among submerged plants, emerging at night to prey on worms, aquatic insects and smaller vertebrates which they catch using two rows of short, sharp teeth. Although they spend much of their lives underwater and are extremely vulnerable to predators and environmental conditions when not submerged Three-Toed Amphiumas possess simple lungs in addition to gills and may crawl to new bodies of water during particularly rainy nights, although when faced with prolonged drought or a lack of food they may also retreat underground and enter a dormant state until conditions improve.

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Image Source: Here

Three-toed Amphiuma (Amphiuma tridactylum)

(Photo from the Missouri Department of Conservation)

Conservation Status- Least Concern

Habitat- Gulf Coast Plain

Size (Weight/Length)- 70 cm

Diet- Fish; Worms; Insects; Mollusks; Snakes; Amphibians

Cool Facts- Upon first glance, you might think a three-toed amphiuma is a very large worm or small eel rather than a nearly legless salamander. The salamanders are expert hunters and eat anything that swims. After eating a crayfish, the three-toed amphiuma will take over its burrow to call a home. Their vestigial legs are practically useless as they wiggle through water and mud like an eel rather than attempting to crawl across the bottom of a river. Three-toed amphiuma have recently found their way into the pet trade, resulting in wild individuals being captured and sold. Luckily, their population is relatively stable as long as their rivers remain clean.

Amphiuma