, ▁or ▁a ▁k ary ot ype ▁test . ▁P . ▁ax anth us ▁has ▁ 3 2 ▁chrom os om es , ▁while ▁P . ▁stri atus ▁has ▁ 2 4 . ▁A ▁cost al ▁gro ove ▁count ▁may ▁assist ▁in ▁differenti ating ▁P . ▁a . ▁ax anth us ▁and ▁P . ▁a . ▁bel li , ▁as ▁the ▁former ▁has ▁ 3 4 – 3 7 ▁cost al ▁gro ov es , ▁while ▁the ▁latter ▁has ▁ 2 9 – 3 3 ▁( P et ran ka , ▁ 1 9 9 8 ). ▁ ▁Distribution ▁P . ▁ax anth us ▁is ▁found ▁throughout ▁eastern ▁Florida , ▁with ▁P . ▁a . ▁ax anth us ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁northern ▁two - third s ▁of ▁the ▁range ▁and ▁P . ▁a . ▁bel li ▁located ▁in ▁the ▁southern ▁third . ▁P . ▁ax anth us ▁pre fers ▁cy press ▁p onds , ▁d itch es , ▁sw amps ▁and ▁mar sh es , ▁and ▁other ▁aqu atic ▁and ▁sem ia qu atic ▁habit ats . ▁P . ▁ax anth us ▁is ▁frequently ▁associated ▁with ▁water ▁hy ac inth . ▁ ▁Re production ▁Little ▁is ▁known ▁about ▁the ▁reprodu ction ▁of ▁wild ▁sir en id ▁sal am and ers . ▁E gg s ▁of ▁P . ▁ax anth us ▁have ▁been ▁found ▁from ▁November ▁through ▁March , ▁and ▁are ▁usually ▁attached ▁sing ly ▁to ▁aqu atic ▁plants . ▁E gg s ▁average ▁ 3   mm ▁in ▁diameter ▁and ▁have ▁three ▁jel