Texas blind salamander

Description

The Texas blind salamander (Eurycea rathbuni) is a rare cave-dwelling troglobite amphibian native to San Marcos,Hays County,Texas,specifically the San Marcos Pool of the Edwards Aquifer.The salamander has blood-red external gills for absorbing oxygen from the water.The salamander's mature length is 13 cm (5 in).Its diet varies by what flows into its cave,including blind shrimp (Palaemonetes antrorum),snails,and amphipods.