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Why are amphiumas often mistaken for snakes or eels?
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Caudata
Tiger salamanders (Ambystoma tigrinum) are widespread across much of the United States. Although they are generally black with yellow blotches, bars, spots, or even stripes, some are lighter in colour or have olive markings. Tiger salamanders belong to the mole salamander family, Ambystomatidae.
Amphiumas are often mistaken for snakes or eels primarily due to their physical appearance. They possess extremely elongated, slender bodies and have very small, inconspicuous legs, which gives them a serpentine or eel-like profile.12
While they are members of the order Caudata, their body shape deviates significantly from the typical four-legged, short-bodied structure associated with many other salamanders. Because of these features, they are sometimes colloquially referred to as "congo eels" or "congo snakes," though they are biologically distinct from both groups.324