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Home , Amphiuma, Amphiuma tridactylum

2001. Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science 1 10:1 1 1-1 13

THREE-TOED (AMPHIUMA TRIDACTYLVM) IN SOUTHWESTERN INDIANA

Michael J. Lacki: Department of Forestry, University of , Lexington, Kentucky 40546

Joseph W. Hummer: Wildlife Technology Program, The Pennsylvania State University, DuBois, Pennsylvania 15801

Joyce L. Fitzgerald: Fitzgerald Environmental Associates, P.O. Box 1865, Owensboro, Kentucky 42302

ABSTRACT. No specimen of the Amphiuma has been recorded in Indiana since 1880, although habitat potentially suitable to of this genus is present along riparian corridors in southern sections of the state. We recovered a dead three-toed amphiuma ( Cuvier) in a slough adjacent to Pigeon Creek, Warrick County, Indiana, on 18 May 2000. Based on snout-to- vent length (21 cm), the specimen was likely immature. A portion of the tail appeared to have been bitten off and total body length could not be measured. A single gill slit was present on each side of the body. The number of toes varied from three to two, with the rear limbs damaged and toes likely removed. This observation represents a possible range extension for A. tridactylum ca. 200 km to the northeast of the known distri- bution. Due to the reclusive nature of this species, we suggest that it may easily go undetected and that more intensive survey efforts might identify other locations where this species is present in the state.

Keywords: Amphiuma tridactylum, three-toed amphiuma, distribution, Indiana, Pigeon Creek, range ex- tension

The three-toed amphiuma (Amphiuma tri- ing as far north as southeastern and dactylum Cuvier) is a relatively large sala- southwestern Kentucky (Conant & Collins mander with four small limbs each possessing 1998; Petranka 1998). In this paper we report three toes (Petranka 1998) that is closely re- an observation of a three-toed amphiuma in lated to the two-toed amphiuma (A means southwestern Indiana. Garden) based on electrophoretic analyses of proteins (Karlin & Means 1994). The species RESULTS inhabits sloughs, swamps, drainage ditches, While conducting biological surveys on 18 slow moving streams and shallow ponds May 2000 along Pigeon Creek, Warrick Coun- (Baker 1945; Cagle 1948; Chaney 1951). His- ty, Indiana, one of the authors (MJL) recov- torical records indicate that an amphiuma was ered a dead A. tridactylum lying on a downed recorded in Indiana sometime between 1879 tree in a slough dominated by buttonbush (Cc- and 1880, but was described as A. means (Hay phalanthus occidentalis L.) and a variety of 1892). Minton (1972) suggested that the ob- aquatic emergents, including lizard's tail (Sau- servation was likely of an A. tridactylum, but rurus cernuus L.) and swamp dock (Rumex questioned the location of the observation verticillatus L.). The specimen was situated based on existing habitats in the general vi- on a downed tree that was ca. 25 cm in di- cinity where the specimen was recorded. Re- ameter, with a third of the stem lengthwise gardless, A. tridactylum is no longer believed exposed to full sunlight above water. The to occur in Indiana (Minton 1972), and the specimen was 21 cm in snout-to-vent length species is not listed as part of the rare fauna and partially decomposed, with the tail from of Indiana (Anonymous 1970). Published dis- the vent posteriorly bitten off or otherwise re- tributional ranges of A. tridactylum show the moved. The specimen was black on the dorsal species to occur throughout the lower Missis- surface and gray beneath, with numerous cuts sippi River valley, with the distribution reach- or bite marks across the costal grooves. The

111 112 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INDIANA ACADEMY OF SCIENCE number of toes ranged from three to two, but place to conserve the copperbelly water the rear limbs were damaged and toes likely may fortuitously also benefit sympatric pop- removed. A single gill slit was present on each ulations of A. tridactylum. side of the body. Our observations suggest that this salaman- ACKNOWLEDGMENTS der was attacked and killed by a predator. Funding for field surveys was provided by predators of A. tridactylum include the Known Peabody Coal Company and Coal Services cottonmouth, Agkistrodon piscivorus Lace- Corporation. Additional support was provided pede (Liner 1954), and the , Far- by The Pennsylvania State University, DuBois ancia abacura Holbrook (Ernst & Barbour Campus, and the College of Agriculture at the 1989); however, neither of these two predators University of Kentucky. This investigation have been observed in this locality despite (KAES No. 00-09-116) is connected with the nine years of survey (J. Hummer unpubl. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station data). The was recorded within 50 and is published with the approval of the Di- m of a great blue heron (Ardea herodias L.) rector. rookery, and snapping turtles (Chelydra ser- pentina L.) are common in the sloughs along LITERATURE CITED Pigeon Creek (J. Hummer unpubl. data). Re- gardless, the specific predator of this salaman- Anonymous. 1970. Indiana's Rare Plants and An- imals: Checklist of Endangered and Threat- der remains unclear. Petranka (1998) indicated A ened Species. Indiana Department of Natural Re- that the tail represents 20-25% of the total sources, Division of and Wildlife, length of the body in A. tridactylum. Given Indianapolis, Indiana. these estimates, the length of the recorded Baker, C.L. 1945. The natural history and mor- specimen when alive was likely somewhere phology of amphiumae. Journal of the between 25.2—26.2 cm, below the 46 cm min- Academy of Science 20:55-91. imum for breeding adults of this species (Pe- Cagle, ER. 1948. Observations on a population of tranka 1998). the salamander, Amphiuma tridactylum Cuvier. This observation represents a possible Ecology 29:479-491. range extension for A. tridactylum ca. 200 km Chaney, A.H. 1951. The food habits of the sala- to the northeast of the known distribution of mander Amphiuma tridactylum. Copeia 1951:45— this species (Conant & Collins 1998; Petranka 49. 1998). This specimen was located roughly 140 Conant, R. & J.T Collins. 1998. A Field Guide To And : Eastern And Central km due west of the original find by George North America. 3rd ed. Houghton Mifflin Co., Spangler of an amphiuma in Indiana at Jef- Boston, Massachusetts. fersonville (Minton 1972). A reported obser- Ernst, C.H. & R.W. Barbour. 1989. Of vation of a A. tridactylum in Tennessee, out- Eastern North America. George Mason Univ. side of the known distribution of the species, Press. Fairfax, Virginia. has also been called into question (Redmond Hay, O.R 1892. The Batrachians And Reptiles Of & Scott 1996). Perhaps additional survey ef- The State Of Indiana. Geological Survey Of In- forts for this species in suitable habitats will diana. 17th Report State Geologist, Indianapolis, produce other records outside the known dis- Indiana. tribution. Because of a paucity of recent stud- Karlin, A. A. & D.B. Means. 1994. Genetic varia- ies of A. tridactylum and the reclusive nature tion in the aquatic salamander genus Amphiuma. of this species (Petranka 1998), we suggest American Midland Naturalist 132:1-9. Lacki, M.J., J.W. Hummer & J.L. Fitzgerald. 1994. that it is likely that isolated populations do Application of line transects for estimating pop- occur elsewhere. Further, our observation in- ulation density of the endangered copperbelly dicates that the specimen in Warrick County, water snake in southern Indiana. Journal of Her- Indiana, was an immature is suggestive of a petology 28:241-245. breeding population in the area. Given that Liner, E.A. 1954. The herpetofauna of Lafayette, this species in a slough, habitats was found Terrebonne, and Vermilion Parishes, Louisiana. known to harbor populations of the protected Louisiana Academy of Science 12:65-85. copperbelly water snake (Nerodia erythrogas- Minton, S.A., Jr. 1972. Amphibians And Reptiles ter neglecta Conant) in southern Indiana Of Indiana. Indiana Academy of Science. Mono- (Lacki et al. 1994), conservation efforts in graph No. 3. .

LACKI ET AL.—AMPHIUMA IN INDIANA 113

Petranka, J.W. 1998. Of The United ology. Miscellaneous Publication 12. Austin States And Canada. Smithsonian Institution Peay State Univ., Clarksville, Tennessee. Press. Washington, D.C. Redmond, W.H. & A.F. Scott. 1996. Atlas Of Am- Manuscript received 20 February 2001, revised 6 phibians In Tennessee. The Center for Field Bi- August 2001