Salamanders

Austin is home to three species of aquatic salamander that occur no where else in the world except in and around this city: The Barton Springs salamander, Austin Blind salamander and Jollyville Plateau salamander.

The Barton Springs and the Austin Blind salamanders are found only in Barton Springs. The third species, the Jollyville Plateau Salamander, lives primarily in the springs and streams of northwest Austin and southern Williamson County. The Barton Springs salamander is federally endangered and both the Austin Blind and Jollyville Plateau salamanders are candidate species for protection under the Endangered Species Act because of the ever-increasing human impact on their habitat.