Description: The northern dwarf siren is the smallest siren known, at only 4.0 to 9.9 inches. Like other members of the Sirenidae, the northern dwarf siren is aquatic and gilled throughout its life. Being slender and almost eel-like, it is noticeable because of the light stripes on its side compared to the brown or light-grey dorsum. The siren has only one gill slit, a finned tail (tip compressed), costal grooves, and three toes on each of the two front feet. They are very secretive and dwell among water hyacinth roots and amid debris at pond bottoms. They feed on tiny invertebrates, and during droughts, encase themselves in mud beneath the pond bottom.

Habitat: This particular siren tends to live in shallow ditches, cypress swamps, and weed-choked ponds.

Range: coastal plains of South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.

Found in these States: FL | GA | SC

Diet: They feed on tiny invertebrates, and during droughts, encase themselves in mud beneath the pond bottom.

Reproduction: Northern dwarf sirens breed in the spring and gather in large numbers at the pond or spring where they were born. Male and female sirens can not be determined through external examination. The sirens fertilize externally and lay a large number of membrane-enclosed eggs. The eggs are laid singly on roots of aquatic plants, and the larvae hatch about a month after they have been laid at about 0.6 inch. They tend to take 4 years to reach sexual maturity and can have up to 61 eggs in a single breeding season.

Status: Listed as Least Concern in view of its wide distribution and presumed large population.

Subspecies: Three, all found in the United States:
   Gulf Hammock Dwarf Siren - (Pseudobranchus striatus lustricolus)
   Slender Dwarf Siren - (Pseudobranchus striatus spheniscus)
   Broad-striped Dwarf Siren - (Pseudobranchus striatus striatus)

Taxonomy: