Species Profile
Environmental Conservation Online System

Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum)

Kingdom: Animalia
Class: Amphibia
Order: Caudata
Family: Plethodontidae

Listing Status:   

Where Listed: WHEREVER FOUND

General Information

Barton Springs salamanders have slender bodies with elongated limbs, flattened snouts, and three pairs of bright red external gills. They have four toes on their front feet and five on their hind feet; they also have short, finned tails with single orange-yellow stripes. The small amphibians vary in size from 1 to 2.5 inches long as adults, and are anywhere from pale purplish brown to yellowish cream in color, always with olive brown mottling.

Map of Species occurrence

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Map Image Map of Species occurrence Map of Species occurrence

This map represents our best available information about where a species is currently known to or or is believed to occur; however, it should NOT be used as an official species list for Section 7 Consultation purposes. To obtain an official species list for this purpose, please visit the Information, Planning, and Conservation (IPaC) System (click here: http://ecos.fws.gov/ipac)



This species is listed wherever it is found, but
    • States/US Territories in which the Barton Springs salamander, Entire is known to or is believed to occur:  Texas
    • US Counties in which the Barton Springs salamander, Entire is known to or is believed to occur:  View All
Current Listing Status Summary
Status Date Listed Lead Region Where Listed
04/30/1997 Southwest Region (Region 2) Entire

» Federal Register Documents

Most Recent Federal Register Documents (Showing 5 of 12: view all)
Date Citation Page Title
09/21/2005 70 FR 55412 55413 Notice of Availability of the Barton Springs Salamander Final Recovery Plan
01/25/2005 70 FR 3548 3550 Notice of Availability of the Draft Barton Springs Salamander Recovery Plan; Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Status Review for the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum)
04/30/1997 62 FR 23377 23392 ETWP; Final Rule To List the Barton Springs Salamander as Endangered
09/04/1996 61 FR 46608 46616 ETWP; Withdrawal of Proposed Rule To List the Barton Springs Salamander as Endangered
02/28/1996 61 FR 7597 7613 ETWP; Review of Plant and Animal Taxa That Are Candidates for Listing as Endangered or Threatened Species

» Recovery

Recovery Plan Information Search
Current Recovery Plan(s)
Date Title Plan Action Status Plan Status
09/21/2005 Barton Springs Salamander Recovery Plan View Implementation Progress Final
Other Recovery Documents (Showing 2 of 2)
Date Citation Page Title Document Type
09/21/2005 70 FR 55412 55413 Notice of Availability of the Barton Springs Salamander Final Recovery Plan
  • Notice Final Recovery Plan Availability
    • 01/25/2005 70 FR 3548 3550 Notice of Availability of the Draft Barton Springs Salamander Recovery Plan; Notice of Initiation of a 5-Year Status Review for the Barton Springs Salamander (Eurycea sosorum)
  • Notice 5-year Review
  • Notice Draft Recovery Plan Availability
    • Five Year Review
    Date Title
    10/05/2006 Barton Springs Salamander 5-Year Review

    » Critical Habitat

    No critical habitat rules have been published for the Barton Springs salamander, Entire.

    » Conservation Plans

    Habitat Conservation Plans (HCP) (learn more) (Showing 3 of 3)
    HCP Plan Summaries
    Balcones Canyonlands (BCCP)
    Barton Creek Community
    City of Austin/Barton Springs Pool

    » Petitions

    Most Recent Petition Findings (Showing 1 of 1)
    Date Citation Page Title Finding
    12/11/1992 57 FR 58779 58781 ETWP; Notice of Finding on Petition to List Barton Springs Salamander; 57 FR 58779 58781
  • Notice 90-day Petition Finding, Substantial

    • » Life History

    No Life History information has been entered into this system for this species.

    » Other Resources

    NatureServe Explorer Species Reports -- NatureServe Explorer is a source for authoritative conservation information on more than 50,000 plants, animals and ecological communtities of the U.S and Canada. NatureServe Explorer provides in-depth information on rare and endangered species, but includes common plants and animals too. NatureServe Explorer is a product of NatureServe in collaboration with the Natural Heritage Network.

    ITIS Reports -- ITIS (the Integrated Taxonomic Information System) is a source for authoritative taxonomic information on plants, animals, fungi, and microbes of North America and the world.

    Last updated: June 19, 2013