- Eurycea troglodytes
Taxobox
name = Valdina Farms Salamander
status = DD | status_system = IUCN3.1
regnum =Animal ia
phylum =Chordata
classis =Amphibia
ordo =Caudata
familia = Plethodontidae
genus = "Eurycea "
species = "E. troglodytes"
binomial = "Eurycea troglodytes"
binomial_authority = Baker, 1957The Valdina Farms Salamander ("Eurycea troglodytes") is a
species of aquaticsalamander described from Valdina Farms Sinkhole inMedina County, Texas , USA. It is sometimes referred to as the Valdina Blind Salamander or Sinkhole Salamander. Like some other species of "Eurycea " found in Texas, it was once classified as asubspecies of the Texas Salamander, "Eurycea neotenes ", and believed to possibly be the result of hybridization with other species of subterranean salmander, but was granted full species status in 2000. Research is ongoing, and some sources suggest that the current species may actually be multiple distinct species.Description
The Valdina Farms Salamander grows from 2 to 3 inches in length, with short legs, reduced eyes under a layer of skin, and external
gill s. They are grey or cream colored, and translucent, sometimes with pale yellow striping or white speckling. Few specimens are known, so the variability of their color and pattern is unknown.Behavior
It is entirely aquatic, and mostly subterranean, found in springs deep in
limestone crevices, which makes definitively establishing its complete geographic range or its population numbers very difficult.References
* (2000): Phylogenetic relationships of central Texas hemidactyliine plethodontid salamanders, genus "Eurycea", and a taxonomic revision of the group. "Herpetological Monographs" 14: 1-80.
* (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.
* [http://www.zo.utexas.edu/research/txherps/salamanders/eurycea.troglodytes.html Herps of Texas: "Eurycea troglodytes"]
* [http://research.amnh.org/herpetology/amphibia/references.php?id=22396 Amphibian Species of the World: "Eurycea troglodytes"]
* [http://www.iucnredlist.org/search/details.php?species=59276&tab=summ IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: "Eurycea troglodytes"]
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