Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:Automatic taxobox

Sirenidae, the sirens, are a family of neotenic aquatic salamanders. Family members have very small fore limbs, and lack hind limbs altogether.<ref name=EoR>Template:Cite book</ref> In one species, the skeleton in their fore limbs is made of only cartilage. In contrast to most other salamanders, they have external gills bunched together on the neck in both larval and adult states. Sirens are found only in the Southeastern United States and northern Mexico.<ref name=EoR/>

Although they are primarily carnivorous, they are the only salamanders observed eating plant material.<ref name="Hill, R. L. 2015">Hill, R. L., Mendelson, J. R. & Stabile, J. L. 2015. Direct observation and review of herbivory in Sirenidae (Amphibia: Caudata). Southeastern Naturalist 14, N5-N9.</ref>

DescriptionEdit

Sirens are quite distinct from other salamanders, and in some classifications they form their own suborder, Sirenoidea, or as a completely distinct order (Meantes or Trachystomata). Genetic analysis variously places them as the sister to other Salamandroidea<ref>K. Roelants, D.J. Gower, M. Wilkinson, S.P. Loader, S.D. Biju, K. Guillaume, L. Moriau, F. Bossuyt (2007) Global pattern of diversification in the history of modern amphibians. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 104: 887–892</ref><ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> or as sister to all other salamanders.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Many of their unique characteristics seem to be partly primitive and partly derivative.

Sirens are generally eel-like in form, with two tiny, but otherwise fully developed, fore limbs. They range from Template:Convert in length.<ref name=EoR/> They are neotenic, although the larval gills are small and functionless at first, and only adults have fully developed (but inefficient) gills. They are obligate air-breathers with well developed lungs.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> Proving they likely evolved from a terrestrial ancestor with an aquatic larval stage. Like amphiumas, they are able to cross land on rainy nights.

These amphibians are omnivorous, feeding mainly on worms, small snails, shrimps, and filamentous algae.<ref name=Audo>John Farrand Jr., The Audubon Society Encyclopedia of Animal Life, 1982</ref> They are notable among salamanders (and most amphibians, aside from a few frog species) due to their semi-herbivorous habits.<ref name="Hill, R. L. 2015"/> Their jaws possess sharp-edged keratinised and toothless ridges, like many anuran tadpoles, but the coronoid bone in the lower jaw and the vomer and palatine bone in the upper jaw have patches of monocuspid and unbladed teeth arranged in polystichous patterns.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

If the conditions of a water source are unsuitable, a larva will shrink its gills to mere stumps, and these may not function at all.<ref name=Audo/> They are also able to burrow into mud of drying ponds and encase themselves with a cocoon of mucus to survive periods of drought.<ref name=EoR/> During such periods, they breathe with their small but functional lungs.Template:Citation needed

Unlike other salamanders, an interventricular septum is present in the heart. At least two of the species can produce vocalizations.

The structure of sirens' reproductive systems suggests they employ external fertilization.<ref name="EoR" /> This has finally been confirmed in captive breeding experiments, showcasing that males also engage in parental care, building nests for their offspring.<ref name=":0">Reinhard, S., Voitel, S. & Kupfer, A. 2013. External fertilisation and paternal care in the paedomorphic salamander Siren intermedia Barnes, 1826 (Urodela: Sirenidae). Zoologischer Anzeiger 253, 1–5.</ref> Parental care among sirens is paternal due to external fertilization. In S. intermedia males circle around females and may rub or bite her flank region.<ref name=":0" /> Both male and female will go on their backs and turn. It is assumed here where the female spawns and the male fertilizes her eggs.<ref name=":0" /> After the courtship is over, the female leaves and the male guards the eggs. Males could potentially guard more than one brood, but they are known to bite females who enter a nesting site.<ref name=":0" /> Paternal care has also been observed in Cryptobranchoidea, the other suborder with external fertilization.<ref name=":0" /> This is critical to phylogeny, as Salamandroidea, the third suborder, use internal fertilization which may be pair with maternal care, meaning that sirens are one of the oldest groups of salamanders.<ref name=":0" />

The combined biomass of Siren intermedia species in a Texas pond exceeded the total biomass of the pond's seven species of fish.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>

TaxonomyEdit

The siren family (Sirenidae) is subdivided into five genera, three extinct, and two extant with two and three extant species, respectively:

ReferencesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Sister project Template:Sister project

Template:Caudata Template:Taxonbar Template:Authority control