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Necturus lewisi

Brimley, 1924

Neuse River Waterdog

G2Imperiled Found in 1 roadless area NatureServe Explorer →
G2ImperiledGlobal Rank
Least concernIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.100341
Element CodeAAAAE01030
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVertebrate Animal
IUCNLeast concern
Endemicendemic to a single state or province
KingdomAnimalia
PhylumCraniata
ClassAmphibia
OrderCaudata
FamilyProteidae
GenusNecturus
Concept Reference
Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
Taxonomic Comments
See Maxson et al. (1988) for information on Necturus phylogeny based on albumin analysis. Genetically most closely related to N. punctatus (Guttman et al. 1990). Nelson et al. (2017) reported a population of Necturus aff. lewisi from the western side of the Appalachian range in eastern Tennessee, which seemingly is involved in ongoing hybridization with N. maculosus (Frost 2020).
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2026-01-18
Change Date2013-04-18
Edition Date2026-01-18
Edition AuthorsHammerson, G. (2013); rev. R. L. Gundy (2026)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent5000-20,000 square km (about 2000-8000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences21 - 80
Rank Reasons
This species is limited to the Neuse and Tar river drainages of North Carolina. The population has declined by about 50% in area of occupancy and abundance. It continues to decline due to sedimentation with additional threats from invasive species, droughts, and dams.
Range Extent Comments
This species is endemic to the Neuse (including the Trent River sub-basin) and Tar-Pamlico river basins of the Piedmont and Coastal Plain in northeastern North Carolina, United States (Petranka 1998, USFWS 2023). Using all historical Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) (2026) records, range extent is estimated to be 18,019 km² (RARECAT 2025). Based on 2018-2020 surveys throughout the historical range, range extent has not drastically declined (Teitsworth et al. 2024).
Occurrences Comments
Based on multiple surveys since 2011, there are approximately 30-50 occurrences throughout the range (USFWS 2023, Teitsworth et al. 2024). USFWS (2023) reported presence in 37 HUC-10 watersheds.
Threat Impact Comments
The primary threat to this species is sedimentation. Sedimentation fills in the spaces between larger substrate types (e.g., gravel, cobble, rocks) where females lay eggs, eliminating potential reproduction sites (Braswell and Ashton 1985, USFWS 2023, Teitsworth et al. 2024). Sedimentation occurs through water development projects (e.g., impoundments, stream channelization), pollution from agricultural runoff, hog farm wastes, pesticides, and industrial and urban development (Bury et al. 1980, Braswell and Ashton 1985, USFWS 2023, Teitsworth et al. 2024). Drying of occupied streams results in extirpation from the area and dams prevent natural recolonization (Teitsworth et al. 2024). A significant portion of the habitat in the upper Neuse drainage has been destroyed or degraded (Braswell 1989), and continued development threatens additional habitat. Invasive catfish and crayfish are likely preying on this species (Teitsworth et al. 2024). Water quality pollution appears to be a minor threat (Teitsworth et al. 2024).
Ecology & Habitat

Habitat

Stream dweller requiring relatively high oxygen levels and water quality (Ashton 1990). Among large accumulations of submerged leaves in eddies, or backwaters of streams (Bury et al. 1980). Eggs are attached to underside of objects in water.

Reproduction

Eggs probably laid in spring, hatch in June-July. Sexual maturity attained in about 6 years. Paedomorphic.
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN2
ProvinceRankNative
North CarolinaS2Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
7 - Natural system modificationsRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
7.2 - Dams & water management/useRestricted (11-30%)Serious - moderateHigh (continuing)
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesLarge - restrictedSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9 - PollutionLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.1 - Domestic & urban waste waterRestricted (11-30%)Slight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.2 - Industrial & military effluentsRestricted - smallSlight or 1-10% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
9.3 - Agricultural & forestry effluentsLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. declineHigh (continuing)
11 - Climate change & severe weatherRestricted - smallExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)
11.2 - DroughtsRestricted - smallExtreme - seriousHigh (continuing)

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Roadless Areas (1)
North Carolina (1)
AreaForestAcres
Catfish Lake NorthCroatan National Forest11,299
References (27)
  1. Ashton, Jr, R.E. 1985. Field and laboratory observations on microhabitat selection, movements, and home range of Necturus lewisi (Brimley). Brimleyana. 10:83-106.
  2. Ashton, Jr, R.E. 1990. Necturus lewisi. Catalogue of American Amphibians and Reptiles. 456:1-2.
  3. Behler, J. L., and F. W. King. 1979. The Audubon Society field guide to North American reptiles and amphibians. Alfred A. Knopf, New York. 719 pp.
  4. Blackburn, L., P. Nanjappa, and M. J. Lannoo. 2001. An Atlas of the Distribution of U.S. Amphibians. Copyright, Ball State University, Muncie, Indiana, USA.
  5. Braswell, A. L. 1989. Scientific council report on the conservation status of North Carolina amphibians and reptiles. Submitted to : Nongame Advisory Committee, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission.
  6. Braswell, A. L., and R. E. Ashton, Jr. 1985. Distribution, ecology, and feeding habits of <i>Necturus lewisi</i> (Brimley). Brimleyana 10:13-35.
  7. Braswell, A. L. Herpetologist, North Carolina State Museum of Natural History. Raleigh, NC
  8. Bury, R. B., C. K. Dodd, Jr., and G. M. Fellers. 1980. Conservation of the Amphibia of the United States: a review. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, D.C., Resource Publication 134. 34 pp.
  9. Conant, R., and J. T. Collins. 1998. A field guide to reptiles and amphibians: eastern and central North America. Third edition, expanded. Houghton Mifflin Co., Boston, Massachusetts. 616 pp.
  10. Crother, B. I. (editor). 2017. Scientific and standard English names of amphibians and reptiles of North America north of Mexico, with comments regarding confidence in our understanding. 8th edition. SSAR Herpetological Circular 43:1-104. [Updates in SSAR North American Species Names Database at: https://ssarherps.org/cndb]
  11. Frost, D. R. 1985. Amphibian species of the world. A taxonomic and geographical reference. Allen Press, Inc., and The Association of Systematics Collections, Lawrence, Kansas. v + 732 pp.
  12. Frost, D.R. 2020. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 6.0. American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Online: http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/index.html
  13. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). 2026. Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF) data portal. Online. Available: https://www.gbif.org/ (accessed 2026).
  14. Guttman, S.I., L.A. Weight, P.A. Moler, R.E. Ashton, Jr., B.W. Mansell and J. Peavy. 1990. An electrophoretic analysis of <i>Necturus</i> from the southeastern United States. Journal of Herpetology. 24:163-175.
  15. LeGrand, Harry E., Jr. Zoologist. North Carolina Natural Heritage Program. Division of Parks and Recreation, Department of Environment, Health and Natural Resources, Raleigh, North Carolina
  16. Martof, B. S., W. M. Palmer, J. R. Bailey, and J. R. Harrison, III. 1980. Amphibians and reptiles of the Carolinas and Virginia. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, North Carolina. 264 pp.
  17. Maxson, L. R., P. E. Moler, and B. W. Mansell. 1988. Albumin evolution in salamanders of the genus <i>Necturus</i>. Journal of Herpetology 22:231-235.
  18. Nelson, S. K., M. L. Niemiller, and B. M. Fitzpatrick. 2017. Co-occurrence and hybridization between <i>Necturus maculosus</i> and a heretofore unknown <i>Necturus </i>in the southern Appalachians. Journal of Herpetology 51:559-566.
  19. Petranka, J. W. 1998. Salamanders of the United States and Canada. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington, D.C.
  20. <p>NatureServe's Rapid Analysis of Rarity and Endangerment Conservation Assessment Tool (RARECAT). 2025. Version: 2.1.1 (released April 04, 2025).</p>
  21. Sessions, S.K. and Wiley, J.E. 1985. Chromosome evolution in salamanders of the genus Necturus. Brimleyana. 10:37-52.
  22. Teitsworth, E. W., W. J. Humphries, J. M. Archambault, and K. Pacifici. 2024. Capital to coast: primary drivers of distribution in the secretive and data-limited Neuse River waterdog (<i>Necturus lewisi</i>). Ichthyology and Herpetology 112(2): 196-209. doi: 10.1643/h2023036
  23. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2019. Review of Domestic and Foreign Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register 84(197):54732-54757.
  24. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2020. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Review of Domestic Species That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened; Annual Notification of Findings on Resubmitted Petitions; Annual Description of Progress on Listing Actions. Federal Register 85(221):73164-73179.
  25. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2021. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Threatened Species Status With Section 4(d) Rule for Neuse River Waterdog, Endangered Species Status for Carolina Madtom, and Designations of Critical Habitat. Federal Register 86(109):30688-30751.
  26. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). 2023. Draft Recovery Plan for the Neuse River waterdog (<i>Necturus lewisi</i>). USFWS Raleigh Ecological Services Field Office. 17 pp.
  27. Viosca, P., Jr. 1937. A tentative revision of the genus Necturus, with descriptions of three new species from the southern Gulf drainage area. Copeia 1937:120-138.