Sirenidae

Sirenidae is a family of aquatic salamanders native to the southeastern United States and northeastern Mexico. Its members retain external gills and have reduced forelimbs, with hind limbs absent.

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Siren (amphibian): A member of Sirenidae, with an eel-shaped body, external gills, and forelimbs but no hind limbs. This genus includes the family’s best-known species and exemplifies its limb reduction.
Paedomorphosis: The retention of ancestral or juvenile features in an adult organism. It describes the developmental pattern associated with sirenids’ adult gills and aquatic form.
Greater siren: A large siren species native to the southeastern United States, with forelimbs and no hind limbs. Its habitat use and ecology provide a detailed case of life within Sirenidae.
Proteidae: A family of aquatic salamanders that includes the North American mudpuppy and European olm. Proteids retain external gills like sirenids but have four limbs.
Amphiumidae: A family of aquatic salamanders with elongated bodies and tiny limbs, but no external gills in adults. Amphiumids resemble sirenids in body form but differ in adult gills and limb arrangement.
Lateral line: A sensory system that detects water movement through mechanoreceptive organs. Lateral-line organs help aquatic sirenids detect movement in their surroundings.
Lesser siren: A small siren species found in the southeastern United States and parts of the Gulf Coast region. Its smaller size and varied wetland habitats broaden the family’s ecological picture.
Cryptobranchidae: A family of large aquatic salamanders that includes hellbenders and giant salamanders. These salamanders are aquatic but lack the sirenids’ persistent external gills and reduced limbs.
Salamander: A tailed amphibian belonging to the order Urodela, also called Caudata. Sirenidae is one family within the broader salamander lineage.
Suction feeding: A feeding method in which rapid expansion of the mouth draws prey and water inward. Sirenids capture small prey underwater using mouth movements suited to aquatic feeding.