View source for Cascade Caverns salamander

{{Short description|Species of amphibian}}
{{More footnotes needed|date=February 2025}}
{{Speciesbox
| image = Eurycea latitans.jpg
| status = VU
| status_system = IUCN3.1
| status_ref = <ref name=IUCN>{{cite iucn |author1=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |year=2023 |title=''Eurycea latitans'' |volume=2023 |page=e.T200109960A118990687 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2023-1.RLTS.T200109960A118990687.en |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>
| status2 = G3
| status2_system = TNC
| status2_ref = <ref name=NS>{{cite NatureServe |id=2.1128646 |title=''Eurycea latitans'' |access-date=10 February 2025}}</ref>
| taxon = Eurycea latitans
| authority = Smith & Potter, 1946
}}

The '''Cascade Caverns salamander''' ('''''Eurycea latitans'''''),<ref name=IUCN/> or '''Cascade Caverns neotenic salamander''', is a [[species]] of aquatic [[salamander]] [[endemic]] to [[Cascade Caverns]] in [[Kendall County, Texas]]. Like other species of cave salamanders, they are almost entirely subterranean, living in spring waters deep in [[limestone]] rock strata, so gauging the exact extent of their geographic range or even their population numbers is virtually impossible. This also leads to reduced sampling for study, which has led to some uncertainty in the taxonomic classification; some sources consider all species of Texas cave salamanders to be [[subspecies]] of the [[Texas salamander]]. ''[[Eurycea neotenes]]'' and ''[[Eurycea rathbuni]]'' also live in caves and eat small insects and spiders.

== Description ==
The Cascade Caverns salamander is [[translucent]], with a faint net-shaped pattern that is brown in color, often with white speckling. The species is rarely seen, so the amount of variation in their coloration is unknown. They are [[neoteny|neotenic]], meaning they retain characteristics into adulthood that are usually associated with juvenile salamanders, such as external gills. They have stout bodies, with short legs, and reduced eyes set under a layer of skin. This species of salamanders is threatened and could become endangered.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
* Chippindale, P.T., A.H. Price, Wiens, J.J. & Hillis, D.M. (2000): Phylogenetic relationships of central Texas hemidactyliine plethodontid salamanders, genus ''Eurycea'', and a taxonomic revision of the group. ''Herpetological Monographs'' '''14''': 1-80.
* Hillis, D.M., Chamberlain, D.A., Wilcox, T.P., & Chippindale, P.T. (2001): A new species of subterranean blind salamander (Plethodontidae: Hemidactyliini: ''Eurycea'': ''Typhlomolge'') from Austin, Texas, and a systematic revision of central Texas paedomorphic salamanders. ''Herpetologica'' '''57''': 266–280.
{{Refend}}

==External links==
*{{Wikispecies-inline}}
*[http://www.herpsoftexas.org/taxonomy/term/254/all Herps of Texas: ''Eurycea latitans'']

{{Taxonbar|from=Q3015120}}

[[Category:Eurycea|Latitans]]
[[Category:Plethodon]]
[[Category:Cave salamanders]]
[[Category:Amphibians described in 1946]]


{{Plethodontidae-stub}}