Barton Springs Salamander

Barton Springs salamander
Conservation status
Endangered (IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Amphibia
Order:	Caudata
Family:	Plethodontidae
Genus:	Eurycea
Species:	E. sosorum
Binomial name
Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Price and Hillis, 1993

The Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) is an endangered lungless salamander that only lives in the habitat of Barton Springs in Austin, Texas, USA. Barton Springs salamanders are average-sized (adults grow to approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in length) and have mottled coloration varying from darkish purple to light yellow.

Diet and Behavior

Much of the Barton Springs Salamander's life history remains unknown at this time. It appears that they feed primarily on small aquatic crustaceans, but can supplement their diet with other items, such as earthworms. In addition, aquatic vegetation has been shown to be a critical component to the salamander's habitat; their numbers dropped precipitously after the removal of much of the vegetation from Barton Springs, and have recovered after habitat restoration programs were implemented.

Etymology

The species epithet (sosorum) is an acronym for "Save Our Springs" (a preservation group) combined with a Latin genitive plural ending.^{[citation needed]}

Conservation status

Preserved specimen

Despite inhabiting an urban area, E. sosorum not described until 1993.^{[citation needed]} It was put on the federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species in 1997.^{[citation needed]} The salamander's listing prevented the City of Austin from cleaning the Barton Springs Pool as it had for 70 years--with bleach. As a result, the City of Austin applied for and was issued an Incidental Take Permit under Section 10(a)(1)(b) of the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998. The permit has a term of 15 years and allows incidental taking of salamanders during pool cleaning and maintenance. As a mitigation measure, the City offered to direct 10 percent of revenue generated through pool entry fees into a conservation fund that is used for research and habitat enhancement.

References

• Chippindale, P.T.; A.H. Price, & Hillis, D.M. (1993). "A new species of perennibranchiate salamander (Eurycea, Plethodontidae) from Austin, Texas". Herpetologica 49: 242–259. 
• 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. 
• Hammerson & Chippindale (2004). Eurycea sosorum. 2006. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. IUCN 2006. www.iucnredlist.org. Retrieved on 11 May 2006. Database entry includes a range map, a brief justification of why this species is vulnerable, and the criteria used

External links

Media related to Eurycea sosorum at Wikimedia Commons

• Salamanders B-Roll Video published by austintexasgov

Data related to Eurycea sosorum at Wikispecies