Is this Necturus maculosus?

[geron]

I saw this on ebay last night.

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

Could be wrong, but looks more like a desmognathus

 

[sde]

I am not great with Necturus, but to me it does look like a N. maculosus.

It looks too large to be a Desmognathus larvae, and its gills look to full. Though it is hard to tell from that screenshot.

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

Mudpuppies have legs about the same size and length. Desmognathus species have hind legs larger that the front legs. From the picture it looks like the hind legs are larger, hence me going Desmognathus

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

Plus, normal Necturus Maculosus Don't live in North Carolina on the range maps I have looked at. If it was a Necturus, It would be a Dwarf Mudpuppy

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

Actually, I believe it's a mudpuppy. This is what a baby Necturus looks like:







And a baby Desmognathus:

 

[geron]

Oh wow. I wish i had room enough for mud puppies. Sadly until I move next year that isn't the case lol.

 

[geron]

Also the seller just replied to me and says they are Batrachoseps slender salamanders lol.

 

[sde]

Also the seller just replied to me and says they are Batrachoseps slender salamanders lol.

Ahahahaah!!! They are NOT Batrachoseps, I can assure you of that. Batrachoseps are fully terrestrial and would drown in water, and don't have gills. Clearly this seller doesn't know what they are talking about, I would not buy anything from them.

 

[geron]

Yeah I looked them up and just laughed. Poor little guys. I hope they end up okay in someone who is knowledgeable's care.

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

I would inform them. Slender salamanders don't even live in the south!

 

[Cliygh and Mia]

Unless he got confused with another species (Likely Eurycea Cirrigera)