N. punctatus? The patterning on these matches N. beyeri or the undescribed waterdog from the East Gulf Coast... do you know the general collection location for these? Depending on where they were found, an accurate ID could be made...
These guys are adults and only a little under 6 inches, plus the belly pattern doesn't match beyeri. I'll double check and see where they came from but I am absolutely sure these are punctatus.
Well I know that the undescribed species has an unspotted belly (like N. punctatus) and has the dorsal coloration displayed by these individuals, plus the undescribed waterdog is known be reach an adult length of 5-8 inches. Belly pattern isn't as good an ID factor for Necturus spp. as it was once thought however. If these guys aren't from somewhere between southern Virginia and Georgia then they couldn't be N. punctatus, range is the best way to differentiate these species.
Interesting, N. maculosus is also found along the VA/NC border, in the western portion of the states, unlike N. punctatus which is more east. If they are N. maculosus (which I doubt), then these are very interesting N. punctatus, that's for sure. You should show these to someone with a more scientific background...
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