Description: Pseudobranchus a. belli, the Everglades dwarf siren, has 29-33 costal grooves, three narrow, light lines within the mid-dorsal stripe, and two wider, buff-colored bands along the sides of the body. Adult P. axanthus have a brownish black to light grey ground color and parallel yellow or tan stripes on the back and sides. The stripes run from the head to the tip of the tail.

A slender and elongate aquatic salamander lacking hindlimbs. The lack of hindlimbs is a feature of sirens and dwarf sirens (Family Sirenidae). Other features of sirens and dwarf sirens are lack of eyelids and the presence of a horny beak on the upper and lower jaws. Pseudobranchus have a single gill slit. There are only three toes on the front limbs, which are reduced and often hard to see. Individuals bear bushy, external gills throughout life. Adults may reach 25 cm total length, with 29-37 costal grooves. The tail is about 40% of the total length. There is sexual dimorphism, with females reaching adult size about 28% greater than males.

Habitat: They occur in open marshes, prairie ponds, and other permanent and semi-permanent aquatic habitats. Individuals are frequently found in floating mats of water hyacinth, a plant introduced to the region

Range: This species is distributed throughout peninsular Florida.

Found in these States: FL

Diet: Diet consists of aquatic invertebrates, including earthworms, amphipods, chironomids, and ostracods.

Reproduction: Courtship and mating have not been observed. Fertilization is presumed to be external. Eggs are deposited singly, and the oviposition period lasts from early November through March

Status: Listed a vulnerable due to the small area in which it is found.

Taxonomy: