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Siren (genus)
Encyclopedia
Siren is a genus
of aquatic salamanders
of the family Sirenidae. The genus consists of two living species
, along with one extinct
species from the Eocene Epoch
and three from the Miocene
. The two living species have elongate, eel
-like bodies, with two small vestigial forelegs
.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of aquatic salamanders
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
of the family Sirenidae. The genus consists of two living species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
, along with one extinct
Extinction
In biology and ecology, extinction is the end of an organism or of a group of organisms , normally a species. The moment of extinction is generally considered to be the death of the last individual of the species, although the capacity to breed and recover may have been lost before this point...
species from the Eocene Epoch
Eocene
The Eocene Epoch, lasting from about 56 to 34 million years ago , is a major division of the geologic timescale and the second epoch of the Paleogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Eocene spans the time from the end of the Palaeocene Epoch to the beginning of the Oligocene Epoch. The start of the...
and three from the Miocene
Miocene
The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...
. The two living species have elongate, eel
Eel
Eels are an order of fish, which consists of four suborders, 20 families, 111 genera and approximately 800 species. Most eels are predators...
-like bodies, with two small vestigial forelegs
Forelimb
A forelimb is an anterior limb on an animal's body. When referring to quadrupeds , the term foreleg is often instead used....
.
Species
- †Siren dunni (Goin & Auffenberg, 1957?)
- †Siren hesterna (Herre, 1955?)
- Lesser Siren, Siren intermediaLesser SirenThe Lesser Siren is a species of aquatic salamander native to the eastern United States and northern Mexico. They are referred by numerous common names, including Two-legged Eel, Dwarf Siren, and Mud Eel...
(Barnes, 1826) - Greater Siren, Siren lacertinaGreater SirenThe greater siren is an eel-like amphibian. The largest of the Sirens, they can grow from to in length. They range in color from black to brown, and have a lighter gray or yellow underbelly....
(LinnaeusCarolus LinnaeusCarl Linnaeus , also known after his ennoblement as , was a Swedish botanist, physician, and zoologist, who laid the foundations for the modern scheme of binomial nomenclature. He is known as the father of modern taxonomy, and is also considered one of the fathers of modern ecology...
, 1766) - †Siren miotexana (Holman, 1977?)
- †Siren simpsoni (Herre, 1955?)