Jollyville Plateau Salamander
| Jollyville Plateau salamander | |
|---|---|
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| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: | Eurycea |
| Species: | E. tonkawae |
| Binomial name | |
| Eurycea tonkawae Chippindale, Price, Wiens & Hillis, 2000 |
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The Jollyville Plateau salamander (Eurycea tonkawae) is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is also known as the Tonkawa Springs salamander.[1] It is endemic to Travis and Williamson counties, Texas, United States. This species is perrenibranchiate, retaining its gills throughout life.
Eurycea tonkawae is the sister taxon to E. naufragia and E. chisholmensis, two other endemic perrenibranchiate central Texas salamanders.
Its natural habitats are freshwater springs, spring runs, and wet caves of the Buttercup karst system. Cave dwelling E. tonkawae may represent a distinct species, however further work is needed to clarify their taxonomic status.
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[edit] Conservation status
Eurycea tonkawae is threatened by habitat loss and habitat degradation due to rapid urban growth. During a 2008-2009 drought, the population of the salamander increased, while the body size decreased.[2]
[edit] Notes
- ^ Jessica Miller. "Eurycea tonkawae (Chippindale, Price, Wiens, & Hillis, 2000) Tonkawa Springs Salamander". Amphibiainfo.com. http://www.amphibiainfo.com/gallery/caudata/plethodontidae/eurycea/tonkawae/. Retrieved 2011-11-11.
- ^ "Jollyville Salamander Could Be Adapting To Drought". KUT News. http://kutnews.org/post/jollyville-salamander-could-be-adapting-drought. Retrieved 2011-11-10.
[edit] 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, G. & Chippindale, P. 2004. Eurycea tonkawae. 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Downloaded on 23 July 2007.
[edit] External links
Data related to Eurycea tonkawae at Wikispecies
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