Eurycea
Encyclopedia
Eurycea is a genus
of salamander
s, native to North America
. These salamanders are commonly referred to as brook salamanders.
in 1822, with a specimen of the spotted-tail salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, from Kentucky. The taxonomy
of the genus is somewhat confusing, as many of the species
within it are poorly studied and are only found in very restricted ranges, or deep within subterranean caverns. Several species have even been described multiple times by different researchers, and several are often considered to be morphologically
different enough to warrant being placed into their own genus.
A recent taxonomic revision moved the Georgia Blind Salamander
to this genus, which makes Haideotriton a synonym of Eurycea http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5781/1/B297.pdf.
Many sources also refer to several species of the genus as cave salamanders, due to their choice of habitat, or as blind salamanders, due to their reduced eyes, or the antiquated term for aquatic salamanders, Triton. Most species are from very isolated localities, so bear the name of the place the first specimen was found.
Genus
In biology, a genus is a low-level taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms, which is an example of definition by genus and differentia...
of salamander
Salamander
Salamander is a common name of approximately 500 species of amphibians. They are typically characterized by a superficially lizard-like appearance, with their slender bodies, short noses, and long tails. All known fossils and extinct species fall under the order Caudata, while sometimes the extant...
s, native to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
. These salamanders are commonly referred to as brook salamanders.
Taxonomy
The genus Eurycea was first described by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-SchmaltzConstantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz
Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, as he is known in Europe, was a nineteenth-century polymath who made notable contributions to botany, zoology, the study of prehistoric earthworks in North America and Mesoamerican ancient linguistics.Rafinesque was eccentric, and is often portrayed as an...
in 1822, with a specimen of the spotted-tail salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, from Kentucky. The taxonomy
Taxonomy
Taxonomy is the science of identifying and naming species, and arranging them into a classification. The field of taxonomy, sometimes referred to as "biological taxonomy", revolves around the description and use of taxonomic units, known as taxa...
of the genus is somewhat confusing, as many of the species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
within it are poorly studied and are only found in very restricted ranges, or deep within subterranean caverns. Several species have even been described multiple times by different researchers, and several are often considered to be morphologically
Comparative anatomy
Comparative anatomy is the study of similarities and differences in the anatomy of organisms. It is closely related to evolutionary biology and phylogeny .-Description:...
different enough to warrant being placed into their own genus.
A recent taxonomic revision moved the Georgia Blind Salamander
Georgia Blind Salamander
The Georgia Blind Salamander is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is most commonly classified as genus Eurycea, but was historically considered monotypic within its own genus, Haideotriton. It is endemic to the United States.Its natural habitats are inland karsts, caves, and...
to this genus, which makes Haideotriton a synonym of Eurycea http://digitallibrary.amnh.org/dspace/bitstream/2246/5781/1/B297.pdf.
Many sources also refer to several species of the genus as cave salamanders, due to their choice of habitat, or as blind salamanders, due to their reduced eyes, or the antiquated term for aquatic salamanders, Triton. Most species are from very isolated localities, so bear the name of the place the first specimen was found.
Species
This genus is composed of the following 27 species:| Binomial Name and Author | Common Name |
|---|---|
| Eurycea aquatica Eurycea aquatica The Brownback Salamander is a species of Brook Salamander. The range of the brownback salamander includes parts of Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee where it occurs in natural freshwater springs typically abundant in watercress... |
Brown-backed salamander |
| Eurycea bislineata |
Northern two-lined salamander |
| Eurycea chamberlaini |
Chamberlain’s dwarf salamander |
| Eurycea chisholmensis |
Salado salamander |
| Eurycea cirrigera |
Southern two-lined salamander |
| Eurycea guttolineata |
Three-lined salamander |
| Eurycea junaluska |
Junaluska salamander |
| Eurycea latitans Eurycea latitans The Cascade Caverns Salamander or Cascade Caverns Neotenic Salamander is a species of aquatic salamander endemic to Cascade Caverns in Kendall County, Texas, USA... |
Cascade Caverns salamander |
| Eurycea longicauda |
Long-tailed salamander |
| Eurycea lucifuga |
Spotted-tail salamander |
| Eurycea multiplicata |
Many-ribbed salamander |
| Eurycea nana Eurycea nana The San Marcos Salamander is a small species of aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. Endemic to Spring Lake and a small region of the headwaters of the San Marcos River near Aquarena Springs, in Hays County, Texas... |
San Marcos salamander |
| Eurycea naufragia |
Georgetown salamander |
| Eurycea neotenes Eurycea neotenes Eurycea neotenes is a species of entirely aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to central Texas, near Helotes, in Bexar County.- Description :... |
Texas salamander |
| Eurycea pterophila |
Fern bank salamander |
| Eurycea quadridigitata Eurycea quadridigitata The Dwarf Salamander is a species of salamander native to the southern United States, from North Carolina to Oklahoma, south to Texas along the Gulf of Mexico states to northern Florida... |
Dwarf four-toed salamander |
| Eurycea rathbuni |
Texas blind salamander |
| Eurycea robusta Eurycea robusta The Blanco Blind Salamander 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... |
Blanco blind salamander |
| Eurycea sosorum |
Barton Springs salamander |
| Eurycea spelaea |
Grotto salamander |
| Eurycea tonkawae |
Jollyville Plateau salamander |
| Eurycea tridentifera Eurycea tridentifera The Comal Blind Salamander or Honey Creek Cave Blind Salamander is a small species of aquatic, lungless salamander native to the United States. It is endemic to a small region at the junction of Comal, Bexar and Kendall counties in Texas... |
Comal blind salamander |
| Eurycea troglodytes Eurycea troglodytes The Valdina Farms Salamander is a species of aquatic salamander described from Valdina Farms Sinkhole in Medina County, Texas, USA. It is sometimes referred to as the Valdina Blind Salamander or Sinkhole Salamander... |
Valinda Farms salamander |
| Eurycea tynerensis |
Oklahoma salamander |
| Eurycea wallacei Georgia Blind Salamander The Georgia Blind Salamander is a species of salamander in the Plethodontidae family. It is most commonly classified as genus Eurycea, but was historically considered monotypic within its own genus, Haideotriton. It is endemic to the United States.Its natural habitats are inland karsts, caves, and... |
Georgia blind salamander |
| Eurycea waterlooensis |
Austin blind salamander |
| Eurycea wilderae |
Blue Ridge two-lined salamander |