Georgia blind salamander facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Georgia blind salamander |
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The Georgia blind salamander (Eurycea wallacei) is a special type of salamander that lives underground. It's part of the Plethodontidae family, also known as "lungless salamanders," because they breathe through their skin and mouth! This amazing creature is found only in the southeastern United States. It lives in dark, watery places like caves and underground rivers. Because its home is threatened, the Georgia blind salamander is considered a "vulnerable" animal by the IUCN. This means it needs our help to survive!
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Where the Georgia Blind Salamander Lives
The Georgia blind salamander makes its home in underground places in the southeastern United States. We don't know exactly how many there are or all the places they live. The very first one studied by scientists was found in 1939. It was discovered in water pumped from a deep well in Albany, Georgia.
Another place in Georgia where these salamanders are found is Climax Cave. This cave is near Climax, Georgia, in Decatur County. You can also find them in at least eight spots near Marianna in Jackson County, Florida.
All these locations are connected by something called the Floridan aquifer. Imagine a giant system of underground water-filled tunnels and spaces in limestone rock. This huge water system lies beneath a lot of the southeastern United States. It's like an underground highway for these salamanders!
Life and Habits of the Georgia Blind Salamander
Scientists are still learning a lot about the Georgia blind salamander. We do know that it eats tiny water creatures. These include ostracods, amphipods, isopods, and copepods.
These salamanders often hang out in caves where bats live. Why? Because bat droppings can fall into the water, providing food for the tiny creatures the salamanders eat!
Reproduction and Life Cycle
Female salamanders with developing eggs have been seen in May and November. This suggests that they might be able to breed at any time of the year.
Interestingly, the Georgia blind salamander stays in its larval (young) form its whole life. This is called being "neotenic". It means they can reproduce even though they look like young salamanders. No adult-looking salamanders have ever been found.
Predators
Other creatures share the salamander's underground home. The Dougherty Plain cave crayfish (Cambarus cryptodytes) is often found in the same places. This crayfish might eat the salamanders. Fish like the American eel (Anguilla rostrata), the brown bullhead (Ameiurus nebulosus), and the Redeye Chub (Notropis harperi) are also likely predators.
How the Georgia Blind Salamander Moves
Since it's blind, the Georgia blind salamander uses its tail and ears to figure out where it's going. It moves in a unique way, almost as if it expects to be attacked at any moment.
Habitat and Conservation Efforts
The places where the Georgia blind salamander lives are all connected by the Floridan aquifer. This means different groups of salamanders can likely move between these areas. The water in their habitat is usually clear. However, it can become cloudy after heavy rain. The water temperature stays between 18 to 21 °C (64 to 70 °F) all year round.
Sadly, two of the caves where this species was once found have since been destroyed. However, other caves in the Florida Caverns State Park are protected. In these protected areas, the salamander populations seem to be stable.
The IUCN considers this species "vulnerable." This means it's at risk of becoming endangered.
Threats to the Salamander
There are several threats to the Georgia blind salamander.
- Pollution: Runoff from farms can pollute the underground water.
- Water Changes: Taking too much water from the aquifer can lower the water table. This changes the salamander's home.
- Collection: There's a small chance that collecting too many salamanders for science or by hobbyists could also harm their populations.
