lesser siren
Quick Summary
The lesser siren (Siren intermedia) is a species of aquatic salamander belonging to the family Sirenidae. These amphibians resemble eels with long, slender bodies that are typically brown, dark gray, or greenish. They possess tiny forelegs but lack hind legs and a pelvis. Both young and adult sirens have feathery gills, allowing them to breathe underwater. They primarily inhabit the muddy bottoms of marshes and streams or hide among aquatic vegetation and stones. Their diet consists mainly of aquatic insects and other invertebrates, which they hunt at night. The lesser siren is found from South Carolina to Texas and in the Mississippi River valley.1
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