Siren sphagnicola
Fedler, Enge, and Moler, 2023
SY-ren — sfag-nih-KOH-lah
SSAR 9th Edition Comments:
New Species. Delimited from S. intermedia by Fedler et al. (2023, Zootaxa 5258: 351–378).
(Pyron, R. Alexander, Christopher K. Beachy, David A. Beamer, and Kenneth M. Kozak. 2025. Caudata – Salamanders. Pages 10-21 in Kirsten E. Nicholson (Editor), Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding, 9th Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles, Lawrence, Kansas. 87 pp.)
Range maps are based on curated specimens and provided gratis by CNAH.
(Created by Travis W. Taggart; Version: 2023.04.21.14.40.45)
Download GeoJSON polygon range file: - 0.1 MB
Taxonomic Etymology:
Named for its affinity to sphagnum moss habitats.
Siren — From Greek Seirēn (Σειρήν), referring to the mythological sirens—part woman, part bird or fish—whose aquatic and mysterious nature inspired the genus name for these eel-like amphibians with reduced limbs.
sphagnicola — From Sphagnum (a genus of peat moss) and Latin -cola (dweller), meaning “sphagnum-dweller,” referring to its close ecological association with sphagnum bogs.
First instance(s) of published English names:
Dwarf Siren (Siren intermedia: Schmidt, Karl P. 1953. A Check List of North American Amphibians and Reptiles. 6th Edition. University of Chicago Press, Chicago, Illinois. 280pp.);
Catalog of American Amphibians and Reptiles
Amphibian Species of the World
GenBank
USGS - Nonindigenous Aquatic Species Database
Selected References:
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1973
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Martof, Bernard S. Siren intermedia. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (127):1-3
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1974
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Martof, Bernard S. Sirenidae. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (151):1-2
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1974
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Martof, Bernard S. Siren. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles (152):1-2
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2003
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Gardner, James D. Revision of Habrosaurus Gilmore (Caudata: Sirenidae) and relationships among Sirenid salamanders. Paleontology 46(6):1009-1122
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2023
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Fedler, Matthew T., Kevin M. Enge, and Paul E. Moler. Unraveling Siren (Caudata:Sirenidae) systematics and description of a small, seepage specialist. Zootaxa 5258(4):351-378
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