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By any name, amphiumas are fun new exhibit
Brit Spaugh Zoo looks at species survival
new slt zoo amphiuma-closeup
A two-toed amphiuma is one of the newest animals at Great Bends Brit Spaugh Zoo. Although its is commonly called the Congo eel, or the lamper eel, amphiuma is actually a salamander. - photo by photos by Susan Thacker/Great Bend Tribune
One of the newest animals at Great Bend’s Brit Spaugh Zoo goes by an alias.The so-called Congo eel isn’t an eel at all, said Zoo Director Scott Gregory. It’s actually an amphibian – a salamander that can exist outside of water. And although it is often called Congo eel, Congo snake or lamper eel, the correct name for this critter is amphiuma (am-fee-oo-ma).