Eurycea
| Brook salamanders | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Eurycea longicauda | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Amphibia |
| Order: | Caudata |
| Family: | Plethodontidae |
| Genus: |
Eurycea Rafinesque, 1822 |
| Synonyms | |
|
Spelerpes |
|
Spelerpes
Cylindrosoma
Saurocercus
Manculus
Typhlotriton
Typhlomolge
Septentriomolge
Belpsimolge
Notiomolge
Paedomolge
Haideotriton
Eurycea is a genus of salamanders native to North America. These salamanders are commonly referred to as brook salamanders.
The genus Eurycea was first described by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz in 1822, with a specimen of the spotted-tail salamander, Eurycea lucifuga, from Kentucky. The taxonomy of the genus is somewhat confusing, as many of the species within it are poorly studied and are only found in very restricted ranges, or deep within subterranean caverns. Several species have even been described several times by different researchers, and some are often considered to be morphologically different enough to warrant being placed into their own genera. A recent taxonomic revision moved the Georgia blind salamander to this genus, which makes Haideotriton a synonym of Eurycea [1].
Many sources also refer to several species of the genus as cave salamanders, due to their choice of habitat, or as blind salamanders, due to their reduced eyes, or the antiquated term for aquatic salamanders, Triton. Most species are from very isolated localities, so bear the name of the place the first specimen was found.
This genus is composed of these 27 species:
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Wikipedia