There were many cool freshwater invertebrates to be found, such as this: a Stonefly larva.

A bit later I found something that I’ve never seen before, a Dobsonfly pupa. It was pretty weird looking.

Turning rocks in the creek revealed a number of small fish like darters, suckers and catfish. One rock had a large creature under it that at first I thought was a catfish. Then I realized that it had no fins and I was looking at an amphibian that I have not seen in the wild for over 20 years – a Mudpuppy.

Mudpuppies are large aquatic salamanders. They have gills and spend their entire life underwater. They show a degree of parental care, tending to their eggs after attaching them to submerged stones and logs.

Mudpuppies prefer shallow lakes and streams that have slow moving water and rocks to hide under. They have a voracious appetite and eat a large variety of food items, which enable them to survive under diverse conditions. These foods include worms, water insects, crayfish, mollusks and small fish.

It was awesome to see one of these big amphibians in the wild again!

Third Eye Herp
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