Candidate Petition Project - REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS - PETITIONS TO LIST AS FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

Sep 29, 2026

Reptiles & Amphibians candidate petition materials present individual petitions for four reptile species and seven amphibian species seeking federal Endangered Species Act listing as federally endangered. The text details the Salado salamander petition, including candidate history, taxonomy, natural history, population status, and the specific listing criteria. Habitat loss and degradation pressures are emphasized through water quality and quantity impacts from urbanization, physical habitat modification, and documented contamination incidents affecting spring sites in Bell County, Texas.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages103

Reading Time4 h 20 min

AccessFree to download

Candidate Petition Project

REPTILES & AMPHIBIANS

PETITIONS TO LIST AS FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES

Petition to List: Salado Salamander

Candidate History

Taxonomy

Natural History

Population Status

Listing Criteria

Protecting endangered species and wild places through science, policy, education, and environmental law. Candidate Petition Project REPTILES & AMBHIBIANS PETITIONS TO LIST AS FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES The following document contains the individual petitions for 4 reptile species and 7 amphibian species to be listed as federally endangered species under the federal Endangered Species Act. Salado salamander Austin blind salamander Ozark hellbender Georgetown salamander Black Warrior waterdog Sonoyta mud turtle Cagle's map turtle Black pine snake Eastern massasauga Columbia spotted frog (Great Basin DPS) Oregon spotted frog Eurycea chisholmensis Eurycea waterlooensis Cryptobranchus alleganiensis bishopi Eurycea naufragia Necturus alabamensis Kinosternon sonoriense longifemorale Graptemys caglei Pituophis melanoleucus lodingi Sistrurus catenatus catenatus Rana luteiventris Rana pretiosa Tucson • Phoenix • Idyllwild • San Diego • Oakland • Sitka • Portland • Silver City • Buxton Main Office: PO Box 710 • Tucson, AZ • 85702-0710 PHONE: (520) 623-5252 • FAX: (520) 623-9797 • [W](WEB: www.biologicaldiversity.org)[EB](WEB: www.biologicaldiversity.org)[: www.biologicaldiversity.org](WEB: www.biologicaldiversity.org) PETITION TO LIST salado salamander (Eurycea chisholmensis) AS A FEDERALLY ENDANGERED SPECIES CANDIDATE HISTORY CNOR 11/15/94: CNOR 06/13/02: C TAXONOMY A description of the Salado salamander was published by Chippindale et al. (2000) . This species was formerly included in the Eurycea neotenes species group. NATURAL HISTORY The Salado salamander is entirely aquatic and neotenic, meaning it does not metamorphose into a terrestrial adult. Adults are about 2 inches long. The Salado salamander has reduced eyes compared to other spring-dwelling Eurycea in north central Texas and lacks well-defined melanophores (cells containing brown or black pigments (melanin)) and iridophores (cells filled with iridescent color granules and fat soluble pigments). It has a relatively long and flat head anda blunt and rounded snout. Three pairs of reddish-brown to bright red gills are located on each side of the neck behind the jaws. The upper body is generally greyish-brown with a slight cinnamon tinge and an irregular pattern of tiny, light flecks. The underside is pale and translucent. The posterior portion of the tail generally has well-developed dorsal and ventral fins, although the dorsal tail fin may be absent (Chippindale et al. 2000) . POPULATION STATUS Bell County, Texas, has approximately fourteen very small (0.028 to 0.28 cubic feet per second (cfs)) to large (280 to 2,800 cfs) springs (Brune 1981) . The Salado salamander was known historically from two spring sites near Salado, Bell County, Texas: Big Boiling Springs (also known as Main, Salado, or Siren Springs) and Robertson Springs (Chippindale et al. 2000) . These springs bubble up through faults in the northern segment of the Edwards Aquifer and associated limestones along Salado Creek (Brune 1975) . Both are considered small to medium springs, depending on flow, by Brune’s (1981) definition. Salado salamanders have not been located in Big Boiling Springs, the type locality, since 1991 despite over 20 additional visits that occurred between 1991 and 1998 (Chippindale et al. 2000) . Robertson Springs are on private land and access to the site has not been granted. The last survey at Robertson Springs was in the early 1990s. Other spring sites may have Salado salamanders, but the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has no confirmed information on other springs with salamanders. Four other spring sites (Dining Room, Elm or Critchfield, Benedict, and Anderson Springs) are within a mile of Big Boiling and Robertson Springs (Brune 1981) . Salamanders collected from the springs within Buttermilk Creek, which is near Salado Creek, may also be E. chisholmensis, but the specimens have not yet been identified (Chippindale et al. 2000) . The U

FAQs

What is the purpose of the Candidate Petition Project document?

It compiles individual petitions for four reptile species and seven amphibian species to be listed as federally endangered under the Endangered Species Act.

What does the document say about the Salado salamander’s life history?

The Salado salamander is entirely aquatic and neotenic, meaning it does not metamorphose into a terrestrial adult.

What are the primary threats highlighted for the Salado salamander?

The document emphasizes degradation of water quality and quantity from urbanization and physical modification of habitat, including historical dam construction and documented contamination incidents.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by MrHarris58