Texas Salamander
Eurycea neotenes
They grow to between 2 to 4 inches in length. They have a predominantly brown color with yellow or brown mottles and yellow spots running down its back. They usually reta…
How to identify
They grow to between 2 to 4 inches in length. They have a predominantly brown color with yellow or brown mottles and yellow spots running down its back. They usually retain their juvenile features growing into adulthood with consistently slender bodies, short limbs, and conspicuous red external gills. It lives in caves with reduced vision. It has a large head with a flattened snout, equipped with vestigial eyes buried beneath the skin and has 12 coastal grooves.
Range
The Eurycea neotenes are native to the United States especially the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas near Helotes Creek Springs in Bexar County.
Habitat
The Texas Salamander is adapted for flourishing in underground streams of caves that are relatively inaccessible. Breeding is suggested to be seasonal with the female taking the lead in initiating courtship. Its diet is based on what is more prominent in its aquatic environment including blind shrimps, snails, and amphipods.
Similar species
The Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea Rathbuni) is a rare cave dweller that grows to a mature length of 5 inches. It has blood red external gills that extract oxygen from water. They have a very broad and flathead with a flattened snout. The limbs are thin and laterally compressed. It ha twelve coastal grooves with forelimbs having four digits and hind limbs having five digits. The Eurycea neotenes was classified as a sub-species of the Eurycea rathbuni until recently it was upgraded to a species. The Valdina Farms Salamander (Eurycea troglodytes) is a species that grows to between 2 to 3 inches. They are gray to cream-colored with yellow stripes or white speckles. Their limbs are shortened and they possess external gills with colors and patterns randomly varied. The Spotted Tail Salamander Salamander (Eurycea lucifuga) are large salamanders that grow up to 20cm in total length with the tail making up 60% to 65% of its total length. The dorsal surface is marked with irregularly spaced spots and dashes. It has about 15 coastal grooves and it possesses a prehensile tail.
Name and etymology
Neotenes: Greek for pertaining to youth (neotes), referencing its sexual maturity while in its larval stage.
At a glance
Range
The Eurycea neotenes are native to the United States especially the Edwards Plateau in Central Texas near Helotes Creek Sprin…
Habitat
The Texas Salamander is adapted for flourishing in underground streams of caves that are relatively inaccessible. Breeding is…
Guide
Reptiles and Amphibians of North America
Range map
Approximate range. © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap