Kingdom Animalia Order Caudata Genus Eurycea Higher classification Brook salamander | Phylum Chordata Family Plethodontidae Scientific name Eurycea neotenes Rank Species | |
Similar Brook salamander, Salamander, Lungless salamander, Amphibians, Comal blind salamander | ||
Eurycea neotenes (the Texas salamander, Bexar County salamander, Edwards Plateau salamander, or Texas neotenic salamander) is a species of entirely aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to central Texas, near Helotes, in Bexar County.
Description
The Texas salamander grows from 2 to 4 in (5.1 to 10.2 cm) in length. It is brown in color, often with yellow or brown mottling, with light-yellow spotting down its back. It is neotenic, with a slender body, short limbs, and bright-red external gills. The Texas salamander lives in caves, which resulted in reduced vision in its eyes, due to the long period of time in darkness. It is akin to the Texas blind salamander Eurycea rathbuni.
References
Eurycea neotenes Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA