Eating Habits
Carnivorous, preying on small aquatic arthropods.
Meet the Texas Blind Salamander
Animal’s Behavior
Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) occur exclusively in underground water-filled caverns in complete darkness and lacks functional eyes. It navigates its environment and finds food primarily through touch.
Conservation Efforts
Given the species’ extremely limited distribution within a single aquifer that is heavily used and negatively impacted by humans, this species is currently recognized as Vulnerable, and heavily protected at the state and federal levels.
Animal Facts
This species was discovered more than 100 years ago when a specimen was accidentally carried up inside a bucket of water from a recently-dug well.
Size: This species reaches total lengths of around 5 inches.
Typical Lifespan: This species can live for 20 or more years.
Range
Restricted to water-filled underground caverns of the Edwards Aquifer in central Texas.
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