Amphiumas: Amphiumidae

Amphiuma meat is edible and tastes much like frogs' legs, but few people eat the meat, because the skin is difficult to strip from it. Amphiuma cells, especially the red blood cells, are the largest known cells in vertebrates, and they have long been used in physiological studies and in classrooms. The chromosomes of amphiumas also are very large and useful for study. Amphiumas are captured with dip nets, seines, minnow traps, electroshock equipment, and by hand. The skin is so slippery that cotton gloves must be used to maintain a hold on the animal long enough to place it in a container. Care in handling is recommended, because the bite can be painful.