Eurycea robusta (Longley 1978)

The Blanco blind salamander (Eurycea robusta) is a species of aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to a small region of the Blanco River near San Marcos in Hays County, Texas. Its habitat, deep in limestone karst, makes collecting specimens for research particularly problematic. It is known from only a single specimen, collected in the 1950s.

The Blanco blind salamander is considered a lost species, as it is unknown whether it is still alive or not. Four specimens were discovered in 1951 by a gravel company digging in the dry bed of the Blanco River. Two were eaten by a heron, one was lost and the final specimen was sent to the University of Texas at Austin for research. Any extant members of the species are believed to live in the Edwards Aquifer. Researchers are using environmental DNA analysis to assess whether it still lives, but are hampered by the fact that no extant viable DNA samples exist. For that reason, they are using similar related species, such as the Texas blind salamander, as a proxy.^[1]

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.
• Amphibian Species of the World: Eurycea robusta
• IUCN Red List: Eurycea robusta
• Discover Life: Eurycea robusta

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

Erreferentziak

Ikus, gainera

• Plethodontidae

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

Répartition

Cette espèce est endémique du centre du Texas aux États-Unis. Elle se rencontre dans le comté de Hays^[1].

Taxinomie

Cette espèce semble être en spéciation parapatrique avec Eurycea rathbuni (Stejneger, 1896).

Publication originale

• Longley, 1978 : Status of Typhlomolge (= Eurycea) rathbuni, the Texas blind salamander. Endangered Species Report, United States Fish and Wildlife Service, Alburquerque, New Mexico, vol. 2, p. 1-10.

Notes et références

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

Referências

• Longley, 1978, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Serv., Alburquerque, New Mexico, Endangered Species Report, 2: 1-10.
• Petranka, 1998, Salamand. U.S. Canada: 275.
• 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 robusta . Acessado em 5 agosto 2008.
• AmphibiaWeb: Information on amphibian biology and conservation. [web application]. 2008. Berkeley, California: Eurycea robusta. AmphibiaWeb, available at http://amphibiaweb.org/.