{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"circumscripConfidence":null,"classificationLevel":{"id":7,"classificationLevelNameEn":"Species","classificationLevelNameEs":"Especies","classificationLevelNameFr":"Espèce"},"classificationStatus":{"id":1,"classificationStatusDescEn":"Standard","classificationStatusDescEs":"Estándar","classificationStatusDescFr":"Standard"},"iucn":null,"nameCategory":{"id":1,"nameCategoryDescEn":"Vertebrate Animal","nameCategoryDescEs":"Animal vertebrado","nameCategoryDescFr":"Animal vertébré","nameTypeCd":"A","nameTypeDesc":"Zoological"},"rankMethodUsed":null,"formattedScientificName":"<i>Siren intermedia</i>","scientificName":"Siren intermedia","scientificNameAuthor":"Barnes, 1826","primaryCommonName":"Lesser Siren","relatedItisNames":"<i>Siren intermedia</i> Barnes, 1826 (TSN 173736)","uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1279250","elcode":"AAAAG02060","conceptRefFullCitation":"Fedler, M.T., K.M. Enge, and P.E. Moler. 2023. Unraveling <i>Siren</i> (Caudata:Sirenidae) systematics and description of a small, seepage specialist. Zootaxa 5258(4): 351-378.","conceptName":"<i>Siren intermedia</i>","taxonomicComments":"Using morphological and molecular data, Fedler et al. (2023) revised the <i>Siren </i>complex and found five distinct mtDNA lineages within what has been recognized as <i>S. intermedia</i>. <i>S. i. nettingi</i> was elevated to species status and includes the larger <i>S. i. texana</i> form (<i>Siren </i>sp. 1 in this database) in that taxon, and described a new miniature species, <i>S. sphagnicola</i>.","roundedGRank":"GNR","conservationStatusFactorsEditionDate":null,"conservationStatusFactorsEditionAuthors":null,"primaryCommonNameLanguage":"EN","recordType":"SPECIES","elementNationals":[{"elementNationalId":1279255,"classifConfidence":null,"nation":{"id":225,"nameEn":"United States","nameEs":"Estados Unidos","nameFr":"États-Unis","isoCode":"US","region":"United States"},"roundedNRank":"NNR","elementSubnationals":[{"elementSubnationalId":294962,"subnation":{"id":34,"nameEn":"North Carolina","nameEs":"Carolina del Norte","nameFr":"Caroline du Nord","subnationCode":"NC","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S4","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S4","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":294962,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":401620,"subnation":{"id":32,"nameEn":"Mississippi","nameEs":"Mississippi","nameFr":"Mississippi","subnationCode":"MS","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S4","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S4?","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":401620,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":364381,"subnation":{"id":48,"nameEn":"South Carolina","nameEs":"Carolina del Sur","nameFr":"Caroline du Sud","subnationCode":"SC","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S5","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S5","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":364381,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":397172,"subnation":{"id":12,"nameEn":"Florida","nameEs":"Florida","nameFr":"Floride","subnationCode":"FL","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S4","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S4","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":397172,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":268872,"subnation":{"id":53,"nameEn":"Virginia","nameEs":"Virginia","nameFr":"Virginie","subnationCode":"VA","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S2","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S2S3","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":268872,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":360096,"subnation":{"id":14,"nameEn":"Georgia","nameEs":"Georgia","nameFr":"Géorgie","subnationCode":"GA","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S5","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S5","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":360096,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}},{"elementSubnationalId":273796,"subnation":{"id":2,"nameEn":"Alabama","nameEs":"Alabama","nameFr":"Alabama","subnationCode":"AL","dnationId":225},"roundedSRank":"S5","dataSensitive":{"id":2,"dataSensitiveDescEn":"No","dataSensitiveDescEs":null,"dataSensitiveDescFr":null,"dataSensitiveCode":"N"},"dataSensitiveCategory":null,"srank":"S5","speciesSubnational":{"elementSubnationalId":273796,"hybrid":false,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"nrankReviewYear":null,"nrank":"NNR","speciesNational":{"elementNationalId":1279255,"exotic":false,"native":true}}],"lastModified":"2026-10-03T01:59:01.451623Z","lastPublished":"2026-10-02T21:32:08.892226Z","promotionalDescription":null,"conceptLineageSummary":null,"nsxUrl":"/Taxon/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.1279250/Siren_intermedia","grankAdjustmentReasons":null,"grankChangeDate":null,"grankReviewDate":null,"grankReasons":null,"grank":"GNR","rankInfo":{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"aooPercentGood":null,"enviromentalSpecificity":null,"intrinsicVulnerability":null,"longTermTrend":null,"numberEos":null,"numberGoodEos":null,"numberProtEos":null,"popSize":null,"rangeExtent":null,"shortTermTrend":null,"threatImpactAssigned":null,"rangeExtentComments":"The range of this species is restricted to Atlantic and Gulf drainages from the vicinity of Chesapeake Bay south to central Florida and west throughout the Florida panhandle, USA. Specimens attributed to this species from the Mobile Bay drainage westward are likely either <i>S. nettingi</i> or <i>S. sphagnicola</i> (Fedler et al. 2023).","areaOfOccupancy":null,"areaOfOccupancyComments":null,"numberEosComments":null,"popSizeComments":null,"viabilityComments":null,"threatImpactComments":null,"shortTermTrendComments":null,"longTermTrendComments":null,"inventoryNeeds":null,"numberProtEosComments":null,"protectionNeeds":null,"otherConsiderations":null,"intrinsicVulnerabilityComments":null,"enviromentalSpecificityComments":null},"animalCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"majorHabitat":{"id":2,"majorHabitatDescEn":"Freshwater","majorHabitatDescEs":"Agua dulce","majorHabitatDescFr":"Eau douce"},"nonMigrant":true,"localMigrant":false,"longDistanceMigrant":false,"mobilityMigrationComments":"Eubanks et al. (2002) observed 15 <i>Siren intermedia</i> moving upstream in a rapid flow of water through a 40-m-long concrete culvert between two ponds. The forelimbs appeared to essential in the movement.<br/><br/>In southeastern Missouri, home ranges of adults overlapped considerably and were highly variable in size, ranging from 1 to 232 square meters (Frese et al. 2003).<br/>","foodHabitsComments":"Eats various aquatic invertebrates (crayfish, worms, mollusks) and some plant material. Sometimes eats amphibian eggs.","animalPhenologyComments":"Apparently inactive during winter in the north. Active all year in the south except during periods of drought. May remain inactive (burrowed in substrate, in mucous cocoon) for extended periods during drought. Most active in fall and winter and least active in summer in a temporary pond in Louisiana (Raymond 1991).","colonialBreeder":false,"length":69,"width":null,"weight":null,"animalPhenologies":[{"animalCagPhenologyId":103914,"animalPhenology":{"id":4,"animalPhenologyDescEn":"Nocturnal","animalPhenologyDescEs":"Nocturno","animalPhenologyDescFr":"Nocturne","displayOrder":4},"adult":true,"immature":true}],"animalFoodHabits":[{"animalCagFoodHabitsId":111965,"foodHabits":{"id":3,"foodHabitsDescEn":"Invertivore","foodHabitsDescEs":"Invertívoro","foodHabitsDescFr":"Invertivore","displayOrder":3},"adult":true,"immature":true}]},"occurrenceDelineations":[{"eoSpecsDetailId":-1,"locationUseClass":null,"eoSpecGroupName":"Default","subtypes":null,"inferredExtentDistance":null,"inferredExtentNotes":null,"minimumEoCriteria":null,"mappingGuidance":null,"separationBarriers":null,"separationDistanceUnsuitableHabitatat":1.0,"separationDistanceSuitableHabitatat":1.0,"altSeparationProcedure":null,"separationJustification":null,"versionDate":null,"versionAuthor":null,"versionNotes":null,"lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:20:12.251048Z"}],"plantCharacteristics":null,"elementManagement":{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"eoManagementGroupName":null,"stewardshipOverview":null,"impacts":null,"restorationPotential":null,"siteConservationPlansConsidered":null,"managementMethods":null,"monitoringMethods":null,"managementProgramContacts":null,"monitoringProgramContacts":null,"managementResearchPrograms":null,"managementResearchNeeds":null,"biologicalResearchNeeds":null,"additionalTopics":null},"occurrenceViabilities":[],"references":[{"id":134853,"citation":"Barbour, R. W. 1971. Amphibians and reptiles of Kentucky. Univ. Press of Kentucky, Lexington. x + 334 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Barbour","shortCitationYear":1971,"referenceCode":"B71BAR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:59.913087Z"},{"id":137372,"citation":"Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Behler and King","shortCitationYear":1979,"referenceCode":"B79BEH01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T14:38:24.173666Z"},{"id":100939,"citation":"Bury, R. B., C. K. Dodd, Jr., and G. M. Fellers. 1980. Conservation of the Amphibia of the United States: a review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., Resource Publication 134. 34 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Bury et al.","shortCitationYear":1980,"referenceCode":"B80BUR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:56.631788Z"},{"id":104608,"citation":"Conant, R. and J. T. Collins. 1991. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 450 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Conant and Collins","shortCitationYear":1991,"referenceCode":"B91CON01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:51.303794Z"},{"id":1126807,"citation":"Fedler, M.T., K.M. Enge, and P.E. Moler. 2023. Unraveling <i>Siren</i> (Caudata:Sirenidae) systematics and description of a small, seepage specialist. Zootaxa 5258(4): 351-378.","shortCitationAuthor":"Fedler et al.","shortCitationYear":2023,"referenceCode":"A23FED01NAUS","lastModified":"2023-05-06T00:07:07.332025Z"},{"id":115210,"citation":"Flores-Villela, O., and R. A. Brandon. 1992. <i>Siren lacertina</i> (Amphibia: Caudata) in northeastern Mexico and southern Texas. Annals of Carnegie Museum 61(4):289-291.","shortCitationAuthor":"Flores-Villela and Brandon","shortCitationYear":1992,"referenceCode":"A92FLO01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:17:25.449493Z"},{"id":101043,"citation":"Garrett, J. M., and D. G. Barker. 1987. A Field Guide to Reptiles and Amphibians of Texas. Texas Monthly Press, Austin, Texas. 225 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Garrett and Barker","shortCitationYear":1987,"referenceCode":"B87GAR01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:13:33.242842Z"},{"id":120042,"citation":"Gehlbach, F. R., and S. E. Kennedy. 1978. Population ecology of a highly productive aquatic salamander (SIREN INTERMEDIA). Southwest. Nat. 23:423-430.","shortCitationAuthor":"Gehlbach and Kennedy","shortCitationYear":1978,"referenceCode":"A78GEH01NAUS","lastModified":"2023-05-06T02:36:13.364879Z"},{"id":155391,"citation":"Johnson, T.R. 1977. The Amphibians of Missouri. University of Kansas Museum of Natural History, Public Education Series 6: ix + 134 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Johnson","shortCitationYear":1977,"referenceCode":"B77JOH01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:12:54.368289Z"},{"id":107931,"citation":"Martof, B.S. 1973. Siren intermedia. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 127:1-2.","shortCitationAuthor":"Martof","shortCitationYear":1973,"referenceCode":"A73MAR01NAUS","lastModified":"2023-05-06T02:36:13.349097Z"},{"id":127198,"citation":"Minton, S. A., Jr. 1972. Amphibians and reptiles of Indiana. Indiana Academy Science Monographs 3. v + 346 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Minton","shortCitationYear":1972,"referenceCode":"B72MIN01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:59.913087Z"},{"id":120174,"citation":"Mount, R. H. 1975. The reptiles and amphibians of Alabama. Auburn University Agricultural Experiment Station, Auburn, Alabama. vii + 347 pp.","shortCitationAuthor":"Mount","shortCitationYear":1975,"referenceCode":"B75MOU01NAUS","lastModified":"2020-02-25T18:11:56.616394Z"},{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},{"id":139191,"citation":"Raymond, L. R. 1991. Seasonal activity of SIREN INTERMEDIA in northwestern Louisiana (Amphibia: Sirenidae). Southwest. Nat. 36:144-147.","shortCitationAuthor":"Raymond","shortCitationYear":1991,"referenceCode":"A91RAY01NAUS","lastModified":"2023-05-06T02:36:13.364879Z"},{"id":153286,"citation":"Sugg, D.W., Karlin, A.H., Preston, C.R. and Heath, D.R. 1988. Morphological variation in a population of the salamander, <i>Siren intermedia nettingi</i>. Journal of Herpetology. 22:243-247.","shortCitationAuthor":"Sugg et al.","shortCitationYear":1988,"referenceCode":"A88SUG01NAUS","lastModified":"2023-05-06T02:36:13.364879Z"}],"otherCommonNames":[{"id":207908,"name":"Intermediate Siren","language":"EN"}],"speciesGlobal":{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"cites":null,"cosewic":null,"fwsRegion":null,"genusSize":{"id":2,"genusSizeDescEn":"Very small genus","genusSizeDescEs":"Un género muy pequeño","genusSizeDescFr":"Très petit genre"},"jurisEndem":{"id":3,"jurisEndemDescEn":"endemic to a single nation","jurisEndemDescEs":"Endémico de una nación","jurisEndemDescFr":"Endémique à une nation"},"nomenclaturallyEst":null,"usesa":null,"informalTaxonomy":{"informalTaxonomyId":3,"level1":"Animals","level2":"Vertebrates","level3":"Amphibians","level":3,"hasChildren":false,"parentId":2,"distributionStatus":"complete","displayOrder":1060},"parentSpecies":null,"infraspecies":false,"kingdom":"Animalia","phylum":"Craniata","taxclass":"Amphibia","taxorder":"Caudata","family":"Sirenidae","genus":"Siren","americanFisheriesStatus":null,"americanFisheriesStatusDate":null,"saraStatus":null,"saraStatusDate":null,"cosewicDate":null,"interpretedCosewic":null,"cosewicComments":null,"usesaDate":null,"interpretedUsesa":null,"usesaComments":null,"completeDistribution":true,"synonyms":[],"infraspeciesList":[],"ebarId":null,"ebarCanadianScope":false,"ebarGlobalScope":false,"ebarKbaGroup":"Amphibians and Reptiles","caGeneralStatusId":null},"speciesCharacteristics":{"elementGlobalId":1279250,"reproductionComments":"In South Carolina, oviposition occurs during February-April; fertilization evidently is external (Sever et al. 1996, J. Morphol. 227:335-348). Lays clutch averaging about 200 eggs in winter (e.g., in Louisiana, Raymond 1991) or early spring. Female guards eggs. Sexually mature in 2 years. Paedomorphic.","ecologyComments":"About 1200 were found frozen in an ice-covered pond in Arkansas (Sugg 1988). Density in southeastern Missouri was 1.35 to 2.17 sirens per square meter (Frese et al. 2003).<br/><br/>","habitatComments":"It inhabits shallow, warm, quiet, sometimes turbid waters with abundant vegetation: swamps, sloughs, ponds, lakes, ditches, and to a lesser degree rivers and streams. It hides among plants and debris by day and burrows into bottom mud if water dries up. The eggs are laid in water in a small pocket or debris-covered cavity in bottom mud.","generalDescription":"An eel-like salamander with external gills and only the forelimbs present; each foreleg has four toes; young have a red band across the snout and along the sides of head; costal grooves 31-38; largest subspecies grows to 68 cm (Conant and Collin 1991).","diagnosticCharacteristics":null,"speciesMarineHabitats":[],"speciesTerrestrialHabitats":[],"speciesRiverineHabitats":[{"cagRiverineHabId":-111593,"riverineHabitat":{"id":2,"riverineHabitatDescEn":"MEDIUM RIVER","riverineHabitatDescEs":"RÍO MEDIANO","riverineHabitatDescFr":"MOYENNE RIVIÈRE","displayOrder":2}},{"cagRiverineHabId":-111594,"riverineHabitat":{"id":3,"riverineHabitatDescEn":"CREEK","riverineHabitatDescEs":"ARROYO","riverineHabitatDescFr":"RUISSEAU","displayOrder":3}},{"cagRiverineHabId":-111595,"riverineHabitat":{"id":7,"riverineHabitatDescEn":"Low gradient","riverineHabitatDescEs":"Pendiente de bajo flujo","riverineHabitatDescFr":"Pente d’écoulement faible","displayOrder":7}},{"cagRiverineHabId":-111596,"riverineHabitat":{"id":9,"riverineHabitatDescEn":"Pool","riverineHabitatDescEs":"Piscina","riverineHabitatDescFr":"Fosse","displayOrder":9}}],"speciesPalustrineHabitats":[{"cagPalusHabId":-105184,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":1,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"TEMPORARY POOL","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"PISCINA TEMPORAL","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"BASSIN TEMPORAIRE","displayOrder":1}},{"cagPalusHabId":-105185,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":2,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"HERBACEOUS WETLAND","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"HUMEDAL HERBÁCEO","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"TERRE HUMIDE HERBACÉE","displayOrder":2}},{"cagPalusHabId":-105187,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":3,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"SCRUB-SHRUB WETLAND","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"HUMEDAL DE MATORRALES","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"FRUTICÉE HUMIDE","displayOrder":3}},{"cagPalusHabId":-105186,"palustrineHabitat":{"id":4,"palustrineHabitatDescEn":"FORESTED WETLAND","palustrineHabitatDescEs":"HUMEDAL BOSCOSO","palustrineHabitatDescFr":"TERRE HUMIDE FORESTIÈRE","displayOrder":4}}],"speciesLacustrineHabitats":[{"cagLacusHabId":-101676,"lacustrineHabitat":{"id":2,"lacustrineHabitatDescEn":"Shallow water","lacustrineHabitatDescEs":"Aguas poco profundas","lacustrineHabitatDescFr":"Eau peu profonde","displayOrder":2}}],"speciesSubterraneanHabitats":[],"speciesEstuarineHabitats":[]},"primaryReference":{"id":1153425,"citation":"Nicholson, K. E. (ed.). 2025. Scientific and Standard English Names of Amphibians and Reptiles of North America North of Mexico, with Comments Regarding Confidence in Our Understanding. Ninth Edition. Society for the Study of Amphibians and Reptiles. 87 pp. Online database available at: https://cnah.org/SSARnames.aspx","shortCitationAuthor":"Nicholson","shortCitationYear":2025,"referenceCode":"B25NIC01NAUS","lastModified":"2026-06-06T01:36:32.018241Z"},"predecessors":[{"predecessorId":113065,"elCode":"AAAAG02010","name":"Siren intermedia","formattedName":"<i>Siren intermedia</i>","classficationCode":null,"uniqueId":"ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.102332","lineageDate":null,"nsxUrl":null}],"elementGlobalThreatAssessments":[]}