New occurrence records for Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Price & Hillis, 1993 (Caudata, Plethodontidae) in Travis and Hays counties, Texas, USA

By

Devitt, Thomas
Nissen, Bradley D.

Type

Article

Date of Publication

2018-3-2

Original Publication

Check list : journal of species lists and distribution

Volume

14

Series / Issue

Issue: 1

Pages

297--301

Subjects

Amphibian , Conservation , Edwards Aquifer , Endangered species , Groundwater , Spring , Trinity Aquifer

Contributed by

Pensoft Publishers

Language

English

Published by

[São Paulo, Brazil] Luís Felipe Toledo 2005-

Identifiers

DOI: https://doi.org/10.15560/14.2.297

 

Abstract

We present 7 new occurrence records for the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum Chippindale, Price & Hillis, 1993) from Hays and Travis counties, Texas, USA, including the first for this species from the Trinity Aquifer. Eurycea sosorum is listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act of 1973 due to ongoing threats from urbanization and aquifer overdraft throughout its narrow range. Although this species is more widely distributed than when it was first described in 1993, its range is still exceptionally small, restricted to portions of only two watersheds (Onion and Barton creeks) in one of the fastest-growing metropolitan areas in the United States (Austin, Texas). Under any ecologically-relevant criterion that is based on the best available scientific evidence, this species remains in danger of extinction throughout its range.