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Description

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An extremely rare, blind, cave-dwelling salamander. Initially four individuals were discovered while a spring was being excavated, but only one preserved specimen currently is known. Pigmentless, gilled throughout life, and with extremely reduced eyes. The body is stout, the limbs relatively robust, and the tail thick with a moderately high tail fin. 57 mm snout to vent length (101 mm total length) (Potter and Sweet 1981; Petranka 1998).Until recently E. rathbuni and E. robusta were placed in the genus Typhlomolge. Although they are extreme in their specializations for living in underground aquatic systems, these two species are closely related to other species of Eurycea from Texas and the eastern United States (Chippindale 1995; Petranka 1998).

Reference

Potter, F. E., Jr., and Sweet, S. S. (1981). ''Generic boundaries in Texas cave salamanders, and a redescription of Typhlomolge robusta (Amphibia: Plethodontidae).'' Copeia, 1981(1), 64-75.

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Distribution and Habitat

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Known only from a single locality northeast of San Marcos, Hays County, Texas. This species was discovered while excavating a spring in a dried bed in the Blanco River. The site has subsequently been covered with water from the Blanco River and filled with gravel and silt (Potter and Sweet 1981; Petranka 1998). Habits are likely to be similar to other subterranean salamanders of the genus Eurycea, particularly E. rathbuni.
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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Not known
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Life History, Abundance, Activity, and Special Behaviors

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Known only from the single collection of four individuals, this species is currently the subject of a petition for federal endangered species listing (Petranka 1998).
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Blanco blind salamander

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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

  1. ^ Jones, Benji (1 August 2022). "Why scientists are desperate to find a salamander that's been missing for 71 years". Vox. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
  • 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
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Blanco blind salamander: Brief Summary

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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.

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