Texas Blind Salamander (Eurycea rathbuni)

Common Name: Texas Blind Salamander
Scientific Name: Eurycea rathbuni
Family: Plethodontidae – Lungless Salamander Family
Location: United States – Texas
Size: 3.5 – 5 inches (9 – 12.7 cm)

The Texas Blind Salamander lives around San Marcos in Texas in the Edwards Plateau region. They live deep underground in streams in caves so they are rarely seen and not much is really known about their life. Speaking of sight, the salamander lacks eyes for the most part, it just has small dots under their skin. The first salamanders found were discovered when a well was dug 200 feet down. It is believed that they breed all year long. The eggs hatch in about a month.

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List categorizes the salamander as Vulnerable to Extinction. The state of Texas and the US Federal Government lists the Texas Blind Salamander as an Endangered Species. While the salamander appears common in their habitat, the habitat is just really small, making it easy for any disturbance to kill them all off.