The Blanco blind salamander (Eurycea robusta) is a species of aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to a small region of the Blanco River near San Marcos in Hays County, Texas. Its habitat, deep in limestonekarst, makes collecting specimens for research particularly problematic. It is known from only a single specimen, collected in the 1950s.
The Blanco blind salamander is considered a lost species with it being on Re:wilds Search For Lost Species initiative, as it is unknown whether it is still alive or not. Four specimens were discovered in 1951 by a gravel company digging in the dry bed of the Blanco River. Two were eaten by a heron, one was lost and the final specimen was sent to the University of Texas at Austin for research. Any extant members of the species are believed to live in the Edwards Aquifer. Researchers are using environmental DNA analysis to assess whether it still lives, but are hampered by the fact that no extant viable DNA samples exist. For that reason, they are using similar related species, such as the Texas blind salamander, as a proxy.[2]
Descriptionedit
The Blanco blind salamander has a stout body, reduced eyes, robust limbs, and a thick tail with moderate fins.[3] It differs from other species in its genus with vertebral number with it having 13 trunk vertebrae, disproportionate lateral expansion of elements of the anterior cranial, lack of ossified orbitosphenoids and a arcuate lateral outline of the mandible.[3] The Blanco blind salamander grows to up to 100.8mm in length.[3]
Referencesedit
^Geoffrey Hammerson; Paul Chippindale (2004). "Eurycea robusta". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2004: e.T39263A10173057. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2004.RLTS.T39263A10173057.en. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
^Jones, Benji (1 August 2022). "Why scientists are desperate to find a salamander that's been missing for 71 years". Vox. Retrieved 2 September 2022.
^ abc"Edwards Aquifer Authority › Generic Boundaries in Texas Cave Salamanders and a Redescription of Typhlomolge robusta (Amphibia, Plethodontidae) - Edwards Aquifer Authority". www.edwardsaquifer.org. Retrieved 2024-03-26.
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 Monographs14: 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. Herpetologica57: 266–280.
blanco, blind, salamander, eurycea, robusta, species, aquatic, lungless, salamander, native, united, states, endemic, small, region, blanco, river, near, marcos, hays, county, texas, habitat, deep, limestone, karst, makes, collecting, specimens, research, part. The Blanco blind salamander Eurycea robusta is a species of aquatic lungless salamander native to the United States It is endemic to a small region of the Blanco River near San Marcos in Hays County Texas Its habitat deep in limestone karst makes collecting specimens for research particularly problematic It is known from only a single specimen collected in the 1950s Blanco blind salamander Conservation status Data Deficient IUCN 3 1 1 Scientific classification Domain Eukaryota Kingdom Animalia Phylum Chordata Class Amphibia Order Urodela Family Plethodontidae Genus Eurycea Species E robusta Binomial name Eurycea robusta Longley 1978 Synonyms Typhlomolge robusta Longley 1978 The Blanco blind salamander is considered a lost species with it being on Re wilds Search For Lost Species initiative as it is unknown whether it is still alive or not Four specimens were discovered in 1951 by a gravel company digging in the dry bed of the Blanco River Two were eaten by a heron one was lost and the final specimen was sent to the University of Texas at Austin for research Any extant members of the species are believed to live in the Edwards Aquifer Researchers are using environmental DNA analysis to assess whether it still lives but are hampered by the fact that no extant viable DNA samples exist For that reason they are using similar related species such as the Texas blind salamander as a proxy 2 Description editThe Blanco blind salamander has a stout body reduced eyes robust limbs and a thick tail with moderate fins 3 It differs from other species in its genus with vertebral number with it having 13 trunk vertebrae disproportionate lateral expansion of elements of the anterior cranial lack of ossified orbitosphenoids and a arcuate lateral outline of the mandible 3 The Blanco blind salamander grows to up to 100 8mm in length 3 References edit Geoffrey Hammerson Paul Chippindale 2004 Eurycea robusta IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2004 e T39263A10173057 doi 10 2305 IUCN UK 2004 RLTS T39263A10173057 en Retrieved 19 October 2023 Jones Benji 1 August 2022 Why scientists are desperate to find a salamander that s been missing for 71 years Vox Retrieved 2 September 2022 a b c Edwards Aquifer Authority Generic Boundaries in Texas Cave Salamanders and a Redescription of Typhlomolge robusta Amphibia Plethodontidae Edwards Aquifer Authority www edwardsaquifer org Retrieved 2024 03 26 Chippindale P T A H Price Wiens J J amp 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 amp 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 Amphibian Species of the World Eurycea robusta IUCN Red List Eurycea robusta Discover Life Eurycea robusta nbsp This lungless salamander article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Blanco blind salamander amp oldid 1215759101, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
