mud eel

The term "mud eel" can refer to two different types of aquatic salamanders that are often mistaken for eels or snakes due to their long, slender bodies and small legs.

One type is the amphiuma, found in North America. These salamanders are typically gray or brown, with inconspicuous legs. They inhabit swamps and drainage ditches, possess strong jaws with sharp teeth, and can bite fiercely. Their diet includes crayfish, clams, snails, and other small animals. Amphiumas have internal fertilization, and females lay clutches of eggs ranging from 40 to 350.1

The other creature sometimes called a mud eel is the siren (Siren lacertina). This species is lead-gray in color, can reach about two feet in length, and lives in the swamps and ditches of the southern United States.2