The dwarf waterdog Necturus punctatus has a thinner body than either of those two related species. The dwarf waterdog has four-toed feet on its front and back legs, a set of large feathery gills, and a laterally flattened tail. Dwarf waterdogs have a uniform gray to brown body color without spots. The gills are usually red, and the midline of the belly is a solid white or cream color. Juvenile dwarf waterdogs are a solid brown color, except for a bluish white belly and a mottled tailfin. Similarly, larvae are a uniform brown color.
Ten Facts about Dwarf Waterdog
- Reaches a total length of about 7.5 inches as an adult.
- Can be found ranging from parts of Virginia through the Carolinas and into Georgia.
- They are usually found in streams and are rarely found in deeper main channels of rivers. Dwarf waterdogs prefer slow moving streams with plenty of leaves.
- The Dwarf waterdog diet consists of small fish and many invertebrates, including crayfish, snails, andworms.
- Mating occurs in winters, females lay eggs sometime between March and May.
- Females lay 15-55 eggs.
- Dwarf waterdog mature at four to six years
- Also known as Mudpuppies.
- Dwarf waterdog also absorb oxygen through their skin and by occasionally breathing air at the surface.
- Can live more than 20 years.
