Eurycea neotenes is a species of entirely aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to central Texas, near Helotes, in Bexar County.
| Texas Salamander | |
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| Species: | E. neotenes
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| Binomial name | |
| Eurycea neotenes Bishop & Wright, 1937
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- Common names: Texas salamander, Bexar County salamander[citation needed], Edwards Plateau salamander.[citation needed]
Description
The Texas salamander grows from 2 to 4 inches (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.[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.
- Herps of Texas: Eurycea neotenes
- Amphibian Species of the World: Eurycea neotenes
- IUCN Red List: Eurycea neotenes
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