Description

Also known as Aquatic Waterdog, Common Mudpuppy, Waterdog.

Found during the day, under bank overhangs, amongst debris, and rocks, foraging for food at night, over the bottoms of lakes, ponds, rivers, streams, and wetlands. Mudpuppies are able to live under the ice when lakes freeze.
They feed nocturnally, on small fish, insects, molluscs, and worms.
Length - 33cm
Depth - 0-30m
Widespread North America

These are Salamanders and live an entirely aquatic lifestyle. They have flattened limbs for slowly walking across the bottom, but can also have short swimming spurts. Their external gills resemble ostrich plumes, and their size depends on the oxygen levels present in the water, if the water is stagnant, their gills will be larger than in clear flowing waters. Ref: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_mudpuppy