AMPHIUMA

also called Congo eel, or Congo snake (Amphiuma) any of three species of North American salamanders belonging to the family Amphiumidae (order Urodela). Because they are long and slender and have inconspicuous legs, they are often mistaken for eels or snakes. The body is gray or brown and paler on the lower side. The usual habitat is swamps and drainage ditches. Although there are both three-toed and one-toed species, the most widely distributed (Virginia to Louisiana) is Amphiuma means, which usually grows to 6075 centimetres (2430 inches) in length and has two toes on each foot. Amphiumas have strong jaws and sharp teeth and, unlike most salamanders, can bite viciously. Their diet consists chiefly of crayfish, clams, snails, and other small animals. The female is fertilized internally and lays from 40 to 150 eggs in a single clutch.