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| Subspecies: | Unknown |
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| Est. World Population: | |
| CITES Status: | NOT LISTED |
| IUCN Status: | Endangered |
| U.S. ESA Status: | NOT LISTED |
| Body Length: | |
| Tail Length: | |
| Shoulder Height: | |
| Weight: | |
| Top Speed: | |
| Jumping Ability: | (Horizontal) |
| Life Span: | in the Wild |
| Life Span: | in Captivity |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Females) |
| Sexual Maturity: | (Males) |
| Litter Size: | |
| Gestation Period: | |
Habitat:
This species is fully aquatic and neotenic. It occurs in the immediate vicinity of spring outflows. This species has also been found in the waters of several caves (A. Gluesenkamp pers. comm. July 2021). Individuals can be found under rocks and leaves, and in gravel substrate (Green et al. 2014). This species is paedomorphic, which may limit dispersal and gene flow between subpopulations (Niemiller et al. in press). Breeding habits are unknown, but it is presumably a larval developer like other species in the genus.
Range:
This species occurs in the Blanco River drainage in Blanco, Comal, Hays, and Kendall counties, Texas, USA. Subpopulations from the Guadalupe River Drainage and lower Blanco River are also thought to belong to this species (Bendik et al. 2013, Devitt et al. 2019). This species was removed from synonymy with Eurycea neotenes by Chippindale et al. (2000) who assigned the subpopulations from Fern Bank Spring, Peavey's Springs, Boardhouse Springs, Zercher Spring, Grapevine Cave, and T Cave to this species. It has a patchy and limited distribution (Green et al. 2014). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 4,952 km2, and it is thought to occur in five threat-defined locations, as the range encompasses five watersheds that are all experiencing varying degrees of pressure for groundwater use.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
This species is not currently known from any protected areas.
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Conservation Needed
This species would likely benefit from improved habitat protection at sites where it is known to occur. Additionally, legislation and enforcement of legislation aimed at improving water quality are needed, as are improved water conservation efforts and campaigns.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Further taxonomic research is also needed to resolve this species' status.
This species is not currently known from any protected areas.
In an effort to prevent the introduction of Bsal into the US, an Interim Rule of the Lacey Act has been enacted that bans the importation of 201 species of salamanders (USFWS 2016). Additionally, a temporary voluntary trade moratorium of imports of Asian salamander species that are known to carry the disease until such time as effective testing and treatment regimens can be developed and distributed has been recommended to all exporters, shippers, sellers and buyers by the Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council (PIJAC). A North America Bsal Task Force has also been created, with working groups designed to address a variety of disease prevention and mitigation goals (North America Bsal Task Force 2021).
Conservation Needed
This species would likely benefit from improved habitat protection at sites where it is known to occur. Additionally, legislation and enforcement of legislation aimed at improving water quality are needed, as are improved water conservation efforts and campaigns.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Further taxonomic research is also needed to resolve this species' status.