*The colored areas of the map above represent parishes with currently known records for the given species (Source: Jeff Boundy, LA Dept. of Wildlife and Fisheries). By no means does it represent the full range of the species in the state, nor does it necessarily mean that a species can be found throughout the parish with the record. This is provided as a guide to where you might be able to find these species in the state and to aid in identification. A descriptive explanation of the range of each species can be found in the text below.
Other Common Names:
Subspecies: No subspecies recognized.
Adult Description: Stout-bodied salamander (maximum 10.1”) with small eyes and conspicuous pink to red feathery gills on either side behind head. A black stripe often runs from snout through eye to base of gills. Overall color is usually a shade of brown, with large black spots and smaller yellow spots scattered throughout body and tail. Pattern becomes paler near belly. Tail is laterally compressed, often with a brighter yellow edge on both sides of tail end. Four toes on all four limbs. Usually 17 costal grooves, but range 16–18. Belly is typically gray to white, but sometimes tan, often with scattered black spots, but may be without pattern.
Similar Species:
Species Range: From Mobile drainage in Alabama west to near Mississippi River, and a disjunct population west of Mississippi River in west-central Louisiana and eastern Texas.
Louisiana Range: West-central Louisiana and Florida Parishes.
Adult Habitat: Clear, flowing streams and rivers with sandy bottoms and plentiful submerged root tangles, deadwood, and leaf packs.
Natural History: Gulf Coast Waterdogs are nocturnal but may be active during the day in deep, murky water. They prey upon a wide variety of aquatic invertebrates, including crawfish, clams, and insects. Fish are likely the most important predators, though it has been suggested that reduced activity of Gulf Coast Waterdogs in summer when fish are most active is an anti-predator mechanism. In spring, females deposit clutches of up to 76 eggs in depressions on the substrate under submerged objects, often logs or other large debris. Females guard their nests, and eggs typically hatch in 1–2 months. Maturity occurs in 4–6 years. Maximum wild longevity is suggested to be 6–7 years, but other Necturus are known to live over 30 years in captivity, so this may be an underestimate.
Best Time and Place to Observe: Gulf Coast Waterdogs are secretive and nocturnal and not often observed without trapping. They are most active in cooler weather, particularly after mild to moderate rains, from fall through spring, and tend to prefer deeper holes with less flow.
Global Conservation Status: Gulf Coast Waterdogs have a relatively wide distribution in the southeastern United States and a presumed large population, and thus, are listed as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List. Their NatureServe Global Conservation Status Rank is G4 (Apparently Secure).
Federal Conservation Status: None.
Louisiana Conservation Status: Gulf Coast Waterdogs have a ranking of S3 (rare and local throughout the state – 21-100 known extant populations) in Louisiana.
*** If you live in the range of this species in Louisiana and believe you may have observed this species please let me know (take a picture if possible), as there may be more unknown populations in the state.***
Author's Remarks: I first found this species on two occasions in 2014 at one location in St. Tammany Parish. I have since observed hundreds during some targeted research on them in 2015 at this location. In late 2015 through early 2017 we documented this species at several locations in Allen, Beauregard, Sabine and Vernon Parishes in southwest Louisiana and in St. Helena Parish in southeast Louisiana.
