Waterdog or Mudpuppy Identification This large aquatic salamander, commonly known as the Mudpuppy or Waterdog, has bushy maroon external gills behind the head. In warm or oxygen-poor water, the gills are more extensive and more brightly colored, whereas they are smaller and paler in oxygen-rich water. The majority of the body is gray or brownish-gray with blue-black blotches. The belly is lighter, generally pale gray or yellow, and may sometimes have dark spots. The tail fin is often tinged with orange or red. There are irregular dark stripes running through the small eyes, and each foot has four toes. Colors fade with age, and some older specimens may be almost black. Young and larvae can be striped with red, yellow, or dark stripes, while others are uniformly gray.   Distribution and Status The Mudpuppy can be found from New England and adjacent southern Quebec west through the Ohio valley on to southern Manitoba , south through the Mississippi Valley to Missouri , Tennessee and North Carolina , and to northern Georgia , Mississippi and Alabama . The Mudpuppy is found in all eight Midwestern states. It is considered a species of Special Concern in Ohio and Indiana , and is listed as State Endangered in Iowa . Although they can be locally common, the Mudpuppy has disappeared from many common locations.   Ecology Although they can swim quite well, the Mudpuppy tends to live on the bottom of its aquatic habitat, burrowing under submerged objects. The species can be found in permanent bodies of water, that are at least three feet deep, such as lakes, ponds, rivers, and streams.   Threats and Management Issues Due to their odd appearance, the Mudpuppy has been falsely labeled as dangerous, and people that catch them while fishing will often kill them. The species is also sensitive to chemicals, and population declines have been noted from the Great Lakes where chemicals were used to control lamprey populations.