|
|---|
Warning: Undefined property: stdClass::$Photo1 in /var/www/vhosts/virtualzoo/classifications/display.php on line 584
| Subspecies: | Unknown |
|---|---|
| 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 inhabits a range of groundwater-associated habitats including small hillside seeps, cave streams and spring-fed streams in northwestern Travis and southern Williamson counties, Texas (Chippindale et al. 2000, Bendik et al. 2014). This species is completely aquatic and neotenic, therefore it breeds by larval development and does not metamorphose. This species has a short generation time, with females able to reach sexual maturity within a year, and breeding is thought to occur throughout the year with the possibility for multiple clutches. Movement up to 500 m within a stream has been observed (Bendik et al. 2016). These traits aid in making this species relatively resilient to drought and quickens the response to favorable conditions (Bendik 2017).
Range:
This species occurs in springs of the Jollyville Plateau region northwest of Austin in Travis and Williamson counties, Texas, USA. Its known range includes Cypress, Buttercup, Brushy, Bull, and Shoal Creeks (Chippindale et al. 2000, Devitt et al. 2019). Its extent of occurrence (EOO) is 1,098 km2, which is thought to represent 2-5 threat defined locations.
Conservation:
Conservation Actions In-Place
A large portion of the species' known localities occur within the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (Bendik et al. 2014), others occur within City of Austin Preserves, and one subpopulation that has been tentatively assigned to this species is located within the Travis County Audubon Sanctuary (Chippindale et al. 2000). However, at least half of this species' known range occurs within, or downstream of, highly urbanized areas within the City of Austin and its suburbs (Bendik et al. 2014). This species is federally listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.
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
Expansion of effective watershed preservation and continued management of existing protected areas is essential for the conservation of this species.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Additional taxonomic work is also recommended.
A large portion of the species' known localities occur within the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (Bendik et al. 2014), others occur within City of Austin Preserves, and one subpopulation that has been tentatively assigned to this species is located within the Travis County Audubon Sanctuary (Chippindale et al. 2000). However, at least half of this species' known range occurs within, or downstream of, highly urbanized areas within the City of Austin and its suburbs (Bendik et al. 2014). This species is federally listed as Threatened under the US Endangered Species Act.
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
Expansion of effective watershed preservation and continued management of existing protected areas is essential for the conservation of this species.
Research Needed
More information is needed on this species' distribution, population status, ecology, and threats. Additional taxonomic work is also recommended.