Georgia Blind Salamander (Eurycea wallacei)

The Georgia Blind Salamander, Eurycea wallacei (=Haideotriton), is an obligate inhabitant of groundwater. This species only lives in the Floridan Aquifer and is known from sites in both Florida and Georgia. Excessive removal of groundwater and contamination of the resource threatens this species with intensive agricultural activities taking place on the surface above the Floridan Aquifer. The IUCN lists the species as vulnerable, Florida lists the species as a “species of special concern” and Georgia lists the species as “threatened.” The suite of characters associated with life below ground are readily observable in this species with a decrease in pigment, no eyes, a flattened and spade shaped head, and neoteny (reproductive capability in a larval body form). These images were taken in Georgia.