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Dwarf sirens (Pseudobranchus) are aquatic salamanders endemic to the southeastern United States. There are two extant species, the southern dwarf siren (P. axanthus) and the northern dwarf siren (P. striatus). The northern dwarf siren consists of three subspecies (P. s. striatus, P. s. lustricolus and P. s. sphenisus) one of which, the broad-striped dwarf siren (P. s. striatus), is indigenous to South Carolina (Moler and Kezer 1993; Petranka 1998). The broad-striped dwarf siren inhabits cypress swamps and ponds in acid pine flatwoods, flooded ditches, marshes and other permanent and semi-permanent aquatic habitats from southeastern South Carolina to northern Florida (Conant and Collins 1991; Moler and Kezer 1993; Petranka 1998). Habitat loss and fragmentation as a result of development, agriculture, and silvaculture may be responsible for a decline of this salamander in South Carolina (S. Bennett, pers. comm.) Because of this, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources has listed P. striatus as a state threatened species.
Most of the published life history data for Pseudobranchus species concerns P. axanthus. Although the life history of P. striatus may be similar to that of P. axanthus, for both species there is a general lack of data for growth rates, size and age at first reproduction, and many aspects of the juvenile and adult stages (Petranka 1998). According to Petranka (1998) there is "an almost complete lack of information on the natural history of P. striatus."
In 1994, Riverbanks Zoo and Garden attempted to establish a self-sustaining captive population of P striatus. In July 1994, 0.0.6 P. striatus were collected in Hampton County, South Carolina and donated to RZG by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. Although the age of the specimens at the time of collection is unknown, it was latter determined that their small size corresponded with that of captive born young-of-the-year.
Husbandry.-The salamanders were initially housed in various glass and plastic aquaria ranging in size from 31 x 18 x 21 cm (L x W x H) to 50.8 x 25.4 x 34.2 cm. De-chlorinated tap water with a pH of ~7.0 was added to a depth of ~15.0 cm. Water temperatures were maintained between 23 deg C and 27 deg C. There was no mechanical, chemical, or biological filtration on any of the...