Eel-like, no hindlimbs
External gills
Nocturnal, aquatic

Statewide
Water with bottom layer of muck

Chunky, short trunk, large head
Dark with blue-white flecking on sides
10-11 costal grooves
Fossorial burrower

Statewide
Wooded areas

Dorsal has white bars
Otherwise black
Black patch on crown
Chunky
11-13 costal grooves
Burrowers
Autumn breeder

Statewide except coast
Woodland

Mouth and head small and narrow
Snout short
14-15 costal grooves
Upper body covered in brownish patches
Burrowers

Statewide except coastal
Forests

Dark with yellow round spots
Belly is slate grey
One tubercle or less on each palm
12 costal grooves
Burrowers

E LA
Pine or mixed woodlands

Dark with irregular light blotches
Belly is olive-yellow, except for middle (dark line)
Two tubercles on each palm
12 costal grooves
Burrowers

Rare in LA
Pine to mixed flatwoods

In LA, red spots small or absent
Yellow ventral
No costal grooves
Grainy skin
Complex life cycle

Statewide except salty areas
Wetlands and forests

External gills maroon
Four toes on hind feet
On belly, there is an unspotted midvent region
Aquatic, nocturnal, most active in winter

N LA
Lotic, clear, streams and rivers

Dark brown, profusely spotted with netlike pattern
Underside spotted with no midvent stripe
Four toes on hind feet
Aquatic, nocturnal, active in winter

E & W LA
Lotic streams and rivers

2 Toes on each limb
Dark dorsum and ventrum
Aquatic, nocturnal

E LA
Any slow water

3 toes on each limb
Dark dorsum but light ventrum
Dark throat patch
Aquatic, nocturnal

Statewide
Slow/still water