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<FONT FACE="verdana,arial,helvetica" SIZE="6"><B>Texas Blind Salamander</B></FONT>
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<FONT FACE="verdana,arial,helvetica" SIZE="2"><I>Typhlomolge rathbuni</I></FONT>
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The Texas Blind Salamander can be found in the San Marcos Pool of the Edwards Aquifer in Hays County, Texas. This salamander favors good water quality and water temperature under 70°F (21.1°C).
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The Texas Blind Salamander is fascinating in that one can see its inner organs because of its whitish-transparent skin. This salamander is aquatic and lives in caves. Its external gills are red and its body is small and slender. It has a large head, slender legs and a long tail.
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This <A HREF="../glossary.html#amphibian" TARGET="eslist">amphibian</A> eats <A HREF="../glossary.html#invertebrate" TARGET="eslist">invertebrates</A> such as shrimps, <A HREF="../glossary.html#amphipod" TARGET="eslist">amphipods</A>, and smails.
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Breeding occurs throughout the year.
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The Texas Blind Salamander was discovered in 1896. Its decline began in the 1960s due to overcollecting and the diminishing of water quality. Efforts are being made to prevent the <A HREF="../glossary.html#pollution" TARGET="eslist">pollution</A> of water in the Edward's Aquifer.
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<IMG SRC="../../media/maps/blind_salamander.gif" ALT="Map of Where Texas Blind Salamanders Are Located" WIDTH="320" HEIGHT="183" HSPACE="6" VSPACE="2" BORDER="0" ALIGN="right">
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<U>Bibliography</U>
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<LI>TEN - Treasure Sites <A HREF="http://www.ten.org/tsites/ewt/threatened/rendangered.html" TARGET="esfact">[Threatened Species - Endangered Reptiles & Amphibians]</A></LI>
<LI>U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service <A HREF="http://www.fws.gov/r9endspp/endspp.html" TARGET="esfact">Division of Endangered Species</A></LI>
<LI><U>Encyclopedia of Endangered Species.</U> Edited by Mary Emanoid in Association with IUCN - The World Conservation Union. Detroit, Washington D.C., London: Gale Research Inc., 1994</LI>
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[<A HREF="../esframe.html#es" TARGET="_top">Endangered Species List</A>]
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© 1998 Team 19689 - World Endangered Species
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