Common Mudpuppy (Necturus maculosus)
	Mudpuppies are seldom seen by anyone other than fisherman who often catch them in the Detroit River, especially while ice fishing on the bottom.  Unfortunately for this large salamander those fisherman often think of them as pests or even believe they can be harmful and as a result are regularly killed.  The fact is that this species is completely harmless and should not be considered pests but rather indicators of a clean environment.  They are completely aquatic and are able to breath  with their large, feathery external gills.   In well oxygenated water an individuals gills will tend to be smaller than on an animal from a low-oxygen habitat where larger gills would help it breath.  They can grow to surprisingly large, up to 17" long.
		Caught in the Detroit River
		Caught in the Detroit River
		The best place to see Mudpuppies in Essex County, the Detroit River.
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