description Greater Siren Overview
The Greater Siren (Siren lacertina) is a large, permanently neotenic aquatic salamander native to the eastern United States. As an obligate neotene, it retains its external gills throughout its entire lifespan and lacks hind limbs entirely, possessing only small forelimbs. This species inhabits muddy ditches, swamps, and shallow lakes, where it feeds on invertebrates and aquatic vegetation. It is capable of surviving extended droughts by aestivating in dried mud and is studied by herpetologists focused on amphibian evolution.
insights Ranking position
Greater Siren ranks #78 of 213 in the Amphibian ranking, behind Green Salamander, ahead of Alpine Newt.
help Greater Siren FAQ
Why does the Greater Siren have front legs but no hind legs?
Siren lacertina belongs to a salamander family whose members completely lack hind limbs and a pelvic girdle. Its two small forelimbs sit behind the external gills and are used more for maneuvering than walking.
How can a Greater Siren survive when its wetland dries out?
It can burrow into mud, form a protective cocoon, and enter aestivation while drought conditions persist. This lowered-activity state allows the aquatic salamander to survive far longer out of open water than its eel-like appearance suggests.
Is a Greater Siren an eel or a permanently larval salamander?
It is a salamander, not a fish or eel. Adults retain external gills and other juvenile-looking features throughout life, a condition called neoteny.
Where would someone encounter a Greater Siren in the wild?
The species inhabits swamps, marshes, ponds, and heavily vegetated waterways in the southeastern United States. Its range includes parts of the Atlantic and Gulf coastal plains, especially Florida and neighboring states.
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