Saw unusual fish/lizard - need help identifying it!

[yukoneer]

Saw unusual fish/lizard - need help identifying it!

It was about a foot and half long (appx 18-20" long) and it moved like a fish... but had four legs!!!!

When I saw it resting on the sand under a pipeline, i approached it and touched it, thinking it was a lizard. It moved exactly like a fish! it had fins and mouth like a fish, but had 4 legs.

I know I am not hallculating of narcosis since it was 15 feet deep and my buddy also saw it

This happened at a finger lake in New York (freshwater). Can anyone answer it?

thanks!

matt

 

[Scubaroo]

Not one of those chinese snakehead fish?

Any big salamanders in that part of the country? Might have been one halfway through the tadpole stage.

 

[archman]

Hmmm... try this link out.

http://www.esf.edu/pubprog/BROCHURE/salamanders/salamand.htm

or maybe you saw one of these "hellbender" things. Yuk,
http://yahooligans.yahoo.com/content/animals/species/4397.html

 

[The Kraken]

Could it have been a "mud puppy"?

 

[NorthernMelody]

Either way it sound cool! Would loved to have seen it

 

[The Kraken]

A "mud puppy" is actually, in proper name, a hellbender. It's the largest member of the salamander native to North America. Sounds as if it's at the utmost limit of its northern range.

 

[jiveturkey]

This lake wasn't next to a nuclear power plant was it? Maybe a relative of blinky?

 

[Firefyter]

A "mud puppy" is actually, in proper name, a hellbender. It's the largest member of the salamander native to North America. Sounds as if it's at the utmost limit of its northern range.

That all depends on what part of the country you're in. Mud puppy is kind of a generic term used for salamander in most parts of the country. Thank God we don't have those hellbenders here.....ugly critters...

 

[Rick Murchison]

By the way, a hellbender can bite the fool out of ye...
Rick

 

[The Kraken]

Yes, they can! I learned that at a very early age.