Size
20 – 30 centimeters
(8 – 12 inches)
Diet
Insects, crayfish, small fish, mollusks, worms, and carrion
Range
Common Mudpuppy range
Fact
Mudpuppies can live for more than 30 years.
Making A Difference
Mudpuppies, an aquatic salamander, are a protected species in several US states where they are on the decline. They are considered an indicator species because they are easily impacted by pollutants in water and can indicate when water quality has declined. Many myths persist about mudpuppies that threaten their survival, including that they are poisonous and that they can survive being removed from the water and left on the ice in the winter. Habitat loss, water pollution, and collection by humans also threaten their survival. Zoos and conservation agencies work to educate people about preventing pollution and releasing mudpuppies back into the water when they accidentally catch the amphibian while fishing.
Mudpuppies have external gills that grow larger in low-oxygen water and smaller in high-oxygen water.
Close-up view of Common mudpuppy head and eternal gills.
