| Common Mudpuppy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Information | |
| Range | USA |
| Estimated Population | > 10,000 |
| Scientific Classification | |
| Kingdom | Animalia |
| Phylum | Chordata |
| Class | Amphibia |
| Order | Urodela |
| Family | Proteidae |
| Genus | Necturus |
| Species | N. maculosus |
| Conservation Status | |
 Least Concern | |
The mudpuppy is a salamander are easily identified by the brightly coloured fans on the back of its head which are actually external gills. They feed at night primarily on crustaceans, insect larvae, fishes, worms molluscs and even other amphibians. Mudpuppies have extremely slimy skin and usually live in the water.
Female mudpuppies generally care for the eggs by guarding the eggs and aerating them. These salamanders are neotenic, meaning that they keep their external gills from their larval stage all the way into adulthood.