Eurycea neotenes
| Texas salamander | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Urodela |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Eurycea |
| Species: | E. neotenes |
| Binomial name | |
| Eurycea neotenes Bishop & Wright, 1937 | |
Eurycea neotenes, also known as the Texas salamander, Bexar County salamander, Edwards Plateau salamander, or Texas neotenic salamander,[3] is a species of entirely aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to central Texas, near Helotes, in Bexar County.
Description
[edit]The Texas salamander grows from 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) in length. It is brown in color, often with yellow or brown mottling, with light-yellow spotting down its back. It is neotenic, with a slender body, short limbs, and bright-red external gills. The Texas salamander lives in caves, which resulted in reduced vision in its eyes, due to the long period of time in darkness. It is akin to the Texas blind salamander Eurycea rathbuni.[4]
Diet
[edit]The Texas salamander has reduced vision or can be completely blind, which makes it difficult to hunt for food. It hunts by swishing its head side to side to create water pressure waves and sensing their prey break the still water. The Texas salamander typically preys on amphipods, blind shrimp (Palaemonetes antrorum), daphnia, small snails and other invertebrates.[5]
References
[edit]- ↑ IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group (2023). "Eurycea neotenes". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2023 e.T59272A118991306. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T59272A118991306.en. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ↑ NatureServe. "Eurycea neotenes". NatureServe Explorer. Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 8 February 2025.
- ↑ Amphibian Species of the World: Eurycea neotenes
- ↑ "HERPS of Texas". Archived from the original on 2012-04-15. Retrieved 2012-04-16.
- ↑ "Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) | U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service". www.fws.gov. Retrieved 2025-04-24.
- Chippindale, P.T., A.H. Price, Wiens, J.J. & Hillis, D.M. (2000): Phylogenetic relationships of central Texas hemidactyliine plethodontid salamanders, genus Eurycea, and a taxonomic revision of the group. Herpetological Monographs 14: 1-80.
- Hillis, D.M., Chamberlain, D.A., Wilcox, T.P., & Chippindale, P.T. (2001): A new species of subterranean blind salamander (Plethodontidae: Hemidactyliini: Eurycea: Typhlomolge) from Austin, Texas, and a systematic revision of central Texas paedomorphic salamanders. Herpetologica 57: 266–280.
- Herps of Texas: Eurycea neotenes
- IUCN Red List: Eurycea neotenes
 | This Plethodontidae article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by adding missing information. |