Necturus

Necturus is a genus of aquatic salamanders in the family Proteidae. Species of the genus are native to the eastern United States and Canada. They are commonly known as waterdogs and mudpuppies. The common mudpuppy (N. maculosus) is probably the best-known species – as an amphibian with gill slits, it is often dissected in comparative anatomy classes. The common mudpuppy has the largest distribution of any fully aquatic salamander in North America.

==Taxonomy== The genus Necturus is under scrutiny by herpetologists. The relationship between the species is still being studied. In 1991, Collins recommended N. maculosus louisianensis be elevated to full species status as N. louisianensis. Originally described by Viosca as a species, it is usually considered a subspecies of the common mudpuppy (N. maculosus). However, the interpretation of Collins was not largely followed. A 2018 study identified two lineages (Great Lakes and Mississippi River), but did not draw conclusions about species vs. subspecies status ("Our limited samples are consistent with either interpretation." pg. 360). Currently, the Society for the Study of Reptiles and Amphibians considers the Red River mudpuppy to be a subspecies of N. maculosus, but notes that "its taxonomic status requires further research."