Eurycea troglodytes Baker 1957

The Valdina Farms salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) is a species of aquatic salamander described from Valdina Farms Sinkhole in Medina County, Texas, United States. It is sometimes referred to as the Valdina blind salamander or sinkhole salamander. As some other species of Eurycea found in Texas, it was once classified as a subspecies of the Texas salamander, Eurycea neotenes, and believed to possibly be the result of hybridization with another species of subterranean salamander, but was granted full species status in 2000. Research is ongoing, and some sources suggest the current species may actually be multiple distinct species.

Description

The Valdina Farms salamander grows from 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) in length, with short legs, reduced eyes under a layer of skin, and external gills. They are grey- or cream-colored, and translucent, sometimes with pale yellow striping or white speckling. Few specimens are known, so the variability of their color and pattern is unknown.

Behavior

It is entirely aquatic, and mostly subterranean, found in springs deep in limestone crevices, which makes definitively establishing its complete geographic range or its population numbers very difficult.

References

• 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 troglodytes
• Amphibian Species of the World: Eurycea troglodytes
• IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Eurycea troglodytes

Eurycea troglodytes Eurycea generoko animalia da. Anfibioen barruko Plethodontidae familian sailkatuta dago, Caudata ordenan.

Erreferentziak

Ikus, gainera

• Plethodontidae

Eurycea troglodytes est une espèce d'urodèles de la famille des Plethodontidae^[1].

Répartition

Cette espèce est endémique du comté de Medina au Texas aux États-Unis^[1].

Publication originale

• Baker, 1957 : Eurycea troglodytes: a new blind cave salamander from Texas. Texas Journal of Science, vol. 9, p. 328.

Notes et références

Eurycea troglodytes é um anfíbio caudado da família Plethodontidae endémica dos Estados Unidos da América.

Referências

• Baker, 1957, Texas J. Sci., 9: 328.
• Raffaëlli, 2007, Les Urodèles du Monde: 180.
• Frost, Darrel R. 2008. Amphibian Species of the World: an Online Reference. Version 5.2 (15 July, 2008). Electronic Database accessible at [1] American Museum of Natural History, New York, USA. Eurycea troglodytes . Acessado em 5 de agosto de 2008.
• AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2008. Berkeley, California: Eurycea troglodytes. AmphibiaWeb, available at http://amphibiaweb.org/.