7 replies to this topic

[Matt DeLaVega]

https://journals.plo...876EA3wuIayoFwQ

 

I imagine some might find this interesting.

[Doug_Dame]

https://journals.plo...876EA3wuIayoFwQ

 

I imagine some might find this interesting.

 

Darn right. Supplemental Photo #1 is spectacular. It would be calendar-worthy, if the BOD were to vote in favor of salamander-kin being honorary fish. I usually have a MRBD as my PC wallpaper, but temporarily I'm going siren.

[Matt DeLaVega]

  I like how the abstract basically says there is more to come.

[Doug_Dame]

I spent some time a few years ago, searching in the historic range for some Gulf Hammock Dwarf Sirens. The hope was that finding some would provide the USACE with evidence to deny a mining permit in some environmentally sensitive wetlands. I believe there's only been 3 recorded observances of that particular species (which has been described), and I didn't add any. I had some regular dwarf sirens in an aquarium for a long time, they did surprising well on a "benign neglect" management plan. I've only ever caught one of the greater sirens, which I treated with about the same respect I'd give a cottonmouth in a dipnet. (They reportedly bite, so I let it loose ASAP.)

 

Sirens don't get much attention. 

[JasonL]

My one and only experience with sirens happened last summer when I was dipnetting some mud flats and stumbled across this guy.

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Wasn't sure what it was initially but I wasn't about to tempt fate so I took a few pics and let it go. Turns out it was Siren intermedia commonly known as a lesser siren.

[Matt DeLaVega]

That looks huge.

[JasonL]

As I recall it was around 1 1/2 - 2 feet in length which is a decent sized Siren intermedia from what I've read. I don't know the disposition of larger sirens but was not about to find out so I released it pretty quickly after a few pics.

[Moontanman]

Ooops I cross posted... Sorry guys..