Amphiumas means is the scientific name of a snake-like salamander.  Sometimes people call it a “blind eel” or “congo snake”, or a “conger eel”, but it is not a snake or eel.  It is usually found in the southeastern part of the United States. 

 

Amphiumas means it has all four little limbs.  The limbs have two toes on all four, that’s why they are sometimes called Two-toed Ampimas.  Their limbs are only used for movement.  They do not have eyelids at all, and their body is thick, they are 36 inches only (91cm) long.  Their body has four branchial arches, and they have really sharp teeth too.  All of the Amphiumas species must go through a complete metamorphosis which is a transformation from a larva to an adult.

 

They are all aquatic too, but they don’t contain any gills, but they do have fully developed lungs.  They’re able to live out of the water, if it is damp enough.  They live on coastal plains that are in the southeastern part of the United States.  They can also live in abandoned crawfish holes or even in mammal burrows.

 

They eat small things like fish, frogs, snails, and insect larvae.  The female can lay 200 eggs at a time and breeding only happens in the spring.  She wraps herself around her eggs for about 5 months.  They can lay eggs two to three times a year.

 

If they ever lose a limb, they can regenerate.  Some scientists believe they shouldn’t belong in the amphibian group because they more advanced and others think they should. Amphi is a Greek name meaning” both sides” and pnuema is a Greek names meaning “breathe.

 

Author: Vanessa F

Published: 02/2010

 

 Sources:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik/two-toed Amphiuma

http://people.wscu.ed/pinoout/herpetology/ameans/index.htl

http://www.npwrc.uss.gov/resource/herps/amphibid/species/ampmeans.htp

http://fwie.fw.vt.edu/VHS/amphibians/salamanders/two-toed-amphiuma/two-toed_ampiuma.httm

 

Photo Credit:

© 2000 John White

http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi/img_query?enlarge=0000+0000+1200+0087