This endangered salamander is a slender “long limbed” salamander that grows to be about 2.5 inches long. It has a small narrow head and REALLY small eyes. These little guys vary in color and can be dark gray, gray, purplish-gray, gray-brown, or yellowish-brown. Most of them have a dark black and white pattern o there back.

 

These salamanders have external gills, which are red. The Barton Springs Salamander is aquatic all it’s life. They are known to eat tiny aquatic crustaceans and other small aquatic animals.

  

Not much is known about the Barton Springs Salamander, but out of the little info given ,it will tell you a lot about their whole lifestyle. They  make their habitats ONLY on the spring outflows of Barton Springs. They are often  found  under rocks, or in gravel several inches to about 15 feet under the water. These salamanders can also be found I aquatic plants and algae.

  

Barton Spring Salamanders rely on a clean, clear, continuously flowing  water from the spring. They are known to eat tiny aquatic crustaceans and other small aquatic animals as well.

  

The Barton Springs Salamander relies on the Barton Springs for protection, but the springs can also endanger this little animal. It has to be protected for the flowing of the water taking it off some were.

 

Threats  of  water quality such as toxic chemical spills  and  sewer line  breakage in the urban zone is also a threat. Some predators of the Barton Springs Salamander  are wading birds, such as herons, and predatory fishes such as bass. Overall, these little creatures are very….different.
 
Author: Madilyn K.

Published: 2/10/2010

 

Sources:
http://www.keepaustinbeautiful.org/files/Barton%20Springs%20Salamander.doc

www.wikipedia.com

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/images/amphibians/bartonsprings_salamander.jpg

http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/huntwild/wild/species/bartonspringssalamander/.com

http://www.epa.gov/espp/litstatus/effects/prometon/appendix-a.pdf.com