On our recent trip to Donley Wildlife management area we found a Greater Siren, Family Sirenidae(Siren lacertina) in one of our traps! The traps were placed in swampy wetland areas. Unfortunately it was dead, but we collected it for a new specimen in the lab! Greater sirens are eel like amphibians that can grow up to 38 inches in length. They range in color from black to brown and usually have lighter underbellies. These amphibians are aquatic and have external gills as well as tiny vestigial forelimbs with four toes on each. They generally are carnivorous and eat small insects and snails in the water. Adults usually spend much of their day under rocks, debris, or vegetation as they are a nocturnal species. This was an exciting find, I wish it had been alive because I have never seen a live siren before!
Jeremy Frank
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