Barton Springs Salamander
Encyclopedia
The Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) is an endangered
lungless salamander
that only lives in the habitat of Barton Springs
in Austin
, Texas
, USA
. Barton Springs salamanders are average-sized (adults grow to approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in length) and have mottled coloration varying from darkish purple to light yellow.
" (a preservation group) combined with a Latin
genitive plural ending.
Despite inhabiting an urban area, E. sosorum not described until 1993. It was put on the federal List of Threatened and Endangered Species in 1997. The salamander's listing prevented the City of Austin from cleaning the Barton Springs Pool
as it had for 70 years--with bleach
. As a result, the City of Austin applied for and was issued an Incidental Take Permit
under Section 10(a)(1)(b) of the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998. The permit has a term of 15 years and allows incidental taking of salamanders during pool cleaning and maintenance. As a mitigation measure, the City offered to direct 10 percent of revenue generated through pool entry fees into a conservation fund that is used for research and habitat enhancement.
Endangered species
An endangered species is a population of organisms which is at risk of becoming extinct because it is either few in numbers, or threatened by changing environmental or predation parameters...
lungless salamander
Lungless salamander
The Plethodontidae, or Lungless salamanders, are a family of salamanders. Most species are native to the western hemisphere, from British Columbia to Brazil, although a few species are found in Sardinia, Europe south of the Alps, and South Korea...
that only lives in the habitat of Barton Springs
Barton Springs
Barton Springs is a set of four natural water springs located on the grounds of Zilker Park in Austin, Texas resulting from water flowing through the Edwards Aquifer. The largest spring, Main Barton Spring supplies water to Barton Springs Pool, a popular recreational destination in Austin...
in Austin
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
, Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, USA
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Barton Springs salamanders are average-sized (adults grow to approximately 2.5 inches (6.4 cm) in length) and have mottled coloration varying from darkish purple to light yellow.
Etymology
The species epithet (sosorum) is an acronym for "Save Our SpringsSave Our Springs Alliance
Save Our Springs Alliance , originally called the Save Our Springs Legal Defense Fund, was a nonprofit corporation created to protect the citizen-drafted SOS Ordinance of 1992 to conserve Barton Springs in Austin, Texas...
" (a preservation group) combined with a Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
genitive plural ending.
Conservation status
Barton Springs Pool
Barton Springs Pool is a man-made recreational swimming pool located on the grounds of Zilker Park in Austin, Texas. The pool exists in the channel of Barton Creek and is filled by water from Main Barton Spring, the fourth largest spring in Texas...
as it had for 70 years--with bleach
Bleach
Bleach refers to a number of chemicals that remove color, whiten, or disinfect, often via oxidation. Common chemical bleaches include household chlorine bleach , lye, oxygen bleach , and bleaching powder...
. As a result, the City of Austin applied for and was issued an Incidental Take Permit
Incidental Take Permit
An incidental take permit is a permit issued under Section 10 of the Federal Endangered Species Act to private, non-federal entities undertaking otherwise lawful projects that might result in the take of an endangered or threatened species...
under Section 10(a)(1)(b) of the Endangered Species Act by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in 1998. The permit has a term of 15 years and allows incidental taking of salamanders during pool cleaning and maintenance. As a mitigation measure, the City offered to direct 10 percent of revenue generated through pool entry fees into a conservation fund that is used for research and habitat enhancement.