CR

Texas Blind Salamander

Eurycea rathbuni

Declining

Overview

The Texas blind salamander is a rare and endangered cave-dwelling troglobite amphibian native to San Marcos, Hays County, Texas, specifically the San Marcos Pool of the Edwards Aquifer. This species resembles the olm, another stygofaunal salamander from Europe. Its body is less elongated than the olm's, and it has more digits on each limb: four on the front limbs and five on the back, while the olm has three and two respectively.

Eurycea rathbuni faces severe threats from groundwater depletion and contamination in the Edwards Aquifer system, which directly impacts the spring flows essential for its survival. Urban development and increased water demand in the Austin metropolitan area have reduced spring discharge rates, while pollution from surface runoff and potential aquifer contamination threaten water quality. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to any disruption of its specialized underground habitat.

Threat summary

Habitat

This salamander is endemic to the Barton Springs segment of the Edwards Aquifer in Travis County, Texas, inhabiting the underground cave systems and spring outlets. It requires cool, clean, well-oxygenated groundwater with stable temperatures and specific water chemistry conditions found only in this highly restricted karst aquifer system.

Caves and subterranean habitats· major

Conservation measures underway

Resource & habitat protectionSpecies recoveryEx-situ conservationLegislationCompliance and enforcement

Other threatened species in PLETHODONTIDAE

Honduran Lowland Worm SalamanderVU

Honduran Lowland Worm Salamander

Oedipina quadra

Declining
Kings River Slender SalamanderEN

Kings River Slender Salamander

Batrachoseps regius

Unknown
Conant's Mushroomtongue SalamanderVU

Conant's Mushroomtongue Salamander

Bolitoglossa conanti

Declining
VU

Pygmy Web-footed Salamander

Bolitoglossa pygmaea

Stable

Threatened in United States

Argentinean Horned FrogVU

Argentinean Horned Frog

Ceratophrys ornata

Declining
VU

Lepiota echinella

Unknown
VU

Paddlefish

Polyodon spathula

Unknown
EN

Lyophyllum deliberatum

Unknown

Frequently asked questions

Why is Texas Blind Salamander classified as Critically Endangered?
Texas Blind Salamander is classified as Critically Endangered — facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the wild — because population sizes are very small, declining sharply, or restricted to a tiny range. Eurycea rathbuni faces severe threats from groundwater depletion and contamination in the Edwards Aquifer system, which directly impacts the spring flows essential for its survival. Urban development and increased water demand in the Austin metropolitan area have reduced spring discharge rates, while pollution from surface runoff and potential aquifer contamination threaten water quality. The species' extremely limited range makes it particularly vulnerable to any disruption of its specialized underground habitat.
Where does Texas Blind Salamander live?
Texas Blind Salamander occurs in United States. Country-level distribution data is sourced from the IUCN Red List and cross-referenced with GBIF occurrences.
What are the main threats to Texas Blind Salamander?
The main threats to Texas Blind Salamander are 1.1, 1.2, 11.1, and 5.1. The full IUCN-classified threat record for this species is detailed on the species page.

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