Description of an extant salamander from the Gulf Coastal Plain of North America: The Reticulated Siren, Siren reticulata.

Sean P Graham,Richard Kline,David A Steen,Crystal Kelehear,Roberta Cimmaruta

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0207460

Abstract

The salamander family Sirenidae is represented by four extant species that are restricted to North America. Sirens are abundant throughout the southern United States and are among the world’s largest amphibians, yet the biology, ecology, and phylogeography of this group is poorly-known. In this study we use morphological and genetic evidence to describe a previously unrecognized species from southern Alabama and the Florida panhandle. We name this species the Reticulated Siren, Siren reticulata. Future studies will enable more precise phylogenetic information about S. reticulata and will almost surely reveal additional undescribed species within the family.

Highlights

Extant members of Sirenidae are completely aquatic, eel-like salamanders with an unusual morphology: large fimbriate external gills and only front limbs
Sirenids ranged through North America, South America, and Africa during the Cretaceous [2], the family is largely restricted to the southern United States and northeastern Mexico [3], where it has been present since the late Eocene [4]
We present genetic and morphological evidence supporting the recognition of Siren reticulata, a heretofore-undescribed salamander in the family Sirenidae from Alabama and the Panhandle region of Florida

Summary

Introduction

Extant members of Sirenidae are completely aquatic, eel-like salamanders with an unusual morphology: large fimbriate external gills and only front limbs. Their ancestors likely branched off from all other salamanders early in the evolution of this group [1]. Sirenids ranged through North America, South America, and Africa during the Cretaceous [2], the family is largely restricted to the southern United States and northeastern Mexico [3], where it has been present since the late Eocene [4]. The Lesser Siren (S. intermedia Barnes 1826) reaches 30–69 cm in length and reportedly occurs throughout much of the southern United States, into Mexico, and along the Mississippi River watershed to Michigan [3]. At nearly 1 m in length, the Greater Siren (S. lacertina Linneaus 1766) is one of the largest salamanders in the world; its geographic range is generally confined to portions of Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains of the southeastern United States from Maryland to Alabama, including all of Florida [3]

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Conclusion