This is the largest of the sirens. Sirens resemble overgrown larvae. They have long eel-like bodies and external gills. They are olive to black in color with a lighter belly. Young sirens have a light stripe on their sides, which is lost over time. They lack hind limbs and have relatively weak fore limbs that are not used in swimming or crawling. Their tail is laterally flattened and appears to have a fin around the edge.
Ten Facts about Greater Siren
- They can grow from 48 centimetres (19 in) to 97 centimetres (38 in) in length.
- There are only three species of sirens. This species ranges from Virginia south along the Atlantic coast through Florida and into the gulf coast of Alabama.
- Habitats including ditches, streams, rivers, swamps, lakes, ponds, and some bays. They spend most of their time buried in mud or sand.
- Carnivorous, they eat crayfish, aquatic insects, worms, snails, and small fish.
- Captive sirens have lived to be 25 years of age.
- When grasped, they commonly emit a yelping sound.
- Eggs laid February to March.
- Larvae hatch April to May, are 5/8" (16 mm) long.
- Females lay 100 - 500 eggs singly or in small groups.
- They are favorite food of fishes, birds, frogs, snakes. Larvaes are eaten by other adults.
