The Lesser Siren is one of the weirdest-looking amphibians in North America — and that’s saying something. It looks more like an eel crossed with a salamander than anything else. Lacking back legs entirely and spending nearly its whole life in the water, this slippery creature surprises many people who spot it. What really sets the Lesser Siren apart is its ability to survive extreme droughts by burrowing into mud and waiting months — even up to a year — for water to return.
Size & Physical Appearance
Lesser Sirens are long, slender, and kind of fish-like. Adults typically grow to be about 7 to 27 inches (18 to 69 cm) long, though most fall on the smaller end of that range. Their bodies are eel-shaped and smooth, lacking hind limbs entirely. They do have small, frilly external gills on both sides of their head, which they keep throughout life — unlike most salamanders that lose their gills after metamorphosis.
Color-wise, they’re usually gray to olive or brownish-green, with tiny dark spots scattered across the body. Younger sirens might look a bit brighter or more contrasted in pattern.
There’s not a big visual difference between males and females, and juveniles look similar to adults, just smaller with proportionally larger gills.
Habitat and Range
Lesser Sirens are found in a wide range of watery habitats across the southeastern and central U.S. Think slow-moving streams, marshes, ponds, ditches, and swamps. They prefer water with soft bottoms and lots of vegetation where they can hide — they’re not big fans of fast currents.
Geographically, they range from the Atlantic Coastal Plain (from Virginia down through Florida) all the way west to parts of Texas and northeastern Mexico, and as far north as southern Illinois and southern Indiana.
Even when shallow waters dry up, Lesser Sirens can survive. They’ve adapted to do something called estivation, burrowing down into the mud and entering a state of dormancy until rains return.
Diet
These amphibians are opportunistic carnivores. They eat just about anything they can catch and swallow, including:
- Insects and insect larvae
- Small crustaceans like crayfish
- Snails and worms
- Tadpoles and very small fish
They use a quick sideways snap of their head to suck in prey. Since they’re mostly active at night (nocturnal), they do a lot of their hunting under the cover of darkness.
Lifespan
In the wild, Lesser Sirens are thought to live up to 10 years, maybe a little longer. In captivity, they’ve been known to live up to 25 years, which is impressive for an amphibian. Their ability to slow their metabolism likely plays a role in that longevity.
Identification Tips
If you see a long, eel-like creature with feathery, red external gills and no back legs — it’s probably a siren.
To tell the Lesser Siren apart from similar species:
- Greater Siren (Siren lacertina) – Much larger, often longer than 2 feet (60 cm) with slightly more robust builds. Found mostly in the coastal Southeast.
- Amphiumas – Amphiumas also look eel-like and are fully aquatic, but they have tiny four limbs and lack external gills as adults. Amphiumas also have a more pointed head and live in some of the same regions.
The distinct lack of back limbs and those bushy external gills are big clues you’re looking at a siren.
Fun Fact
The Lesser Siren can make audible sounds — a pretty rare thing for salamanders. When stressed or threatened, it can emit a series of clicks, yelps, or even a short high-pitched scream. Some researchers compare the noise to a squeaky toy. It’s just one more thing that makes this slippery amphibian so unusual.
Wrap-Up
The Lesser Siren is easy to overlook because of its secretive lifestyle, but once you learn what to look (and listen) for, it’s one of the most unusual amphibians in the U.S. With no back legs, feathery gills, and an ability to wait out droughts underground, it’s a master of survival in wetland habitats. If you’re lucky enough to spot one in the wild, take a moment and appreciate one of nature’s more mysterious amphibian wonders.