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Articles 31 - 60 of 5818

Full-Text Articles in Ecology and Evolutionary Biology

A Reassessment Of “Tityus” Tenuimanus Banks, 1910, As A Misidentified Leiurus Sp. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Mohamed Mousaid, Ersen A. Yağmur, Zoe Flores, Alana Rivera, Aziza Lansari, Abdellah Bouazza May 2026

A Reassessment Of “Tityus” Tenuimanus Banks, 1910, As A Misidentified Leiurus Sp. (Scorpiones: Buthidae), Mohamed Mousaid, Ersen A. Yağmur, Zoe Flores, Alana Rivera, Aziza Lansari, Abdellah Bouazza

Euscorpius

This study re-examines the holotype of “Tityus” tenuimanus Banks, 1910, previously synonymized with Buthus atlantis Pocock, 1889 by Lourenço & Francke (1984). Our results indicate that the specimen is a misidentified representative of Leiurus Ehrenberg, 1828, as it exhibits the diagnostic characters of this genus: the central lateral and posterior median carinae of the carapace fused into a lyre-shaped configuration, and tergites I–II bearing five granular carinae (a character absent in the genus Buthus Leach, 1815). Moreover, the holotype lacks one of the most distinctive characters of the genus Tityus Koch, 1836, namely the presence of a subaculear tubercle. The …

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Distribution Of Mussels In Tributary Systems Of The Lower Ouachita River Watershed, Zach R. Crain May 2026

Distribution Of Mussels In Tributary Systems Of The Lower Ouachita River Watershed, Zach R. Crain

ATU Theses and Dissertations 2021 - Present

Freshwater mussel communities in small tributary streams are poorly documented in Arkansas, limiting the understanding of how diversity is structured across river networks. To address this data gap, we surveyed 147 sites across five previously unsurveyed watersheds in the South-Central Plains Ecoregion (SCPE). We sampled 5,473 individuals representing 17 species, including four Arkansas Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN). We evaluated patterns in community variation utilizing β-diversity based on both presence-absence and abundance data. Overall turnover (βsor and Bray) was partitioned into replacement (βsim and BrayBal) and nestedness (βsne and BrayGra) components. Replacement and nestedness each drove turnover in two …

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Scorpions In Brazilian Caves And Other Subterranean Habitats, Jonas E. Gallão, Bruno D, Lenhare, Misael Oliveira-Neto, Maria E. Bichuette May 2026

Scorpions In Brazilian Caves And Other Subterranean Habitats, Jonas E. Gallão, Bruno D, Lenhare, Misael Oliveira-Neto, Maria E. Bichuette

Euscorpius

Arachnids have successfully colonized subterranean environments. Compared to spiders, harvestmen, and pseudoscorpions, scorpions have a moderate number of subterranean species, including troglophiles and troglobites. Among the four families and 184 species and three subspecies of scorpions found in Brazil, three families and at least 33 species and one subspecies have been documented in subterranean habitats. This study presents a faunistic list of scorpion occurrences in caves and other types of subterranean habitats in Brazil, along with distribution maps and an attempt to classify species based on their use of and dependence on subterranean environments.

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The Genus Nebo Simon, 1878 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe May 2026

The Genus Nebo Simon, 1878 (Scorpiones: Diplocentridae) In Oman, Graeme Lowe

Euscorpius

No abstract provided.

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Ecological Responses To Living Shoreline Restoration, Aaron S. Bland May 2026

Ecological Responses To Living Shoreline Restoration, Aaron S. Bland

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Coastal built communities and natural coastal ecosystems face similar and interrelated hazards: shoreline sediment erosion, shoreline retreat, and worsening storms, each of which is exacerbated by relative sea level rise. Living shorelines are coastal defense projects that incorporate natural habitats to provide more sustainable shoreline defense and improve the coastal ecosystem. Living shorelines have been widely adopted, but their performance has been highly variable, and the mechanisms of project success and failure are unclear. The overarching goal of this dissertation was to better understand the ecosystem responses to coastal restoration, focusing on the primary habitats of coastal salt marsh and …

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Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier May 2026

Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Honors Theses

This study explores how the tempo of music, measured in beats per minute (BPM), affects dogs' heart rate and oxytocin levels, adding to past research that shows that music affects physiological and behavioral states in dogs. Being able to understand these effects holds practical implications for improving overall well-being in canines in environments such as homes, shelters, and clinical environments. Using a within-subjects design, the dogs were exposed to slow and fast versions of one instrumental track, along with a white noise baseline condition before each randomized condition. Heart rate was recorded continuously throughout the session, and oxytocin saliva samples …

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Preserving The Past: Exploring The Last Frontier's Ecosystem Shifts And Biodiversity Of The Tallgrass Prairies, Gisell Maldonado, Amelia Villaseñor May 2026

Preserving The Past: Exploring The Last Frontier's Ecosystem Shifts And Biodiversity Of The Tallgrass Prairies, Gisell Maldonado, Amelia Villaseñor

Anthropology Undergraduate Honors Theses

In North America, grasslands are a cornerstone of the environment. Historically, the tallgrass prairie was expansive and reached from Manitoba in Canada to Texas. Today this unique ecosystem is highly fragmented and reduced, but it remains an important ecosystem for biodiversity and cattle management. While there are many complex ecological interactions in the prairie, recent research shows that large herbivores are vital in maintaining grasslands through grazing and other behaviors that reduce woody encroachment and support nutrient cycling. Here, we examine cow and bison dietary behaviors and connect these to the ecosystem services provided by these large herbivores. In the …

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The Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier May 2026

The Beat Behind The Bark: Investigating The Effects Of Music Tempo On Canine Physiological And Psychological States, Marley Lanier

Poster Presentations

Music is a universal component of human culture that has been demonstrated influencing emotional, cognitive, and physiological responses, specifically heart rate and hormonal responses (Mehr et al., 2019; Trappe, 2012). Recently, this research has expended to explore how music may affect non-human animals, particularly dogs, due to their roles as therapy animals, service animals, and human companions (Lindig et al., 2020; Gee et al., 2021). Being able to understand how music influences canine stress and relaxation hold important applications in environments such as shelters, veterinary clinics, and at home. One important feature of music is tempo, or beats per minute …

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Acute Effects Of The Psychoactive Pollutant Fluoxetine On The Antipredator Behavior Of The Gulf Killifish (Fundulus Grandis), Semyra Reus May 2026

Acute Effects Of The Psychoactive Pollutant Fluoxetine On The Antipredator Behavior Of The Gulf Killifish (Fundulus Grandis), Semyra Reus

Honors Theses

Pharmaceutical contaminants are increasingly prevalent in aquatic environments, yet their sublethal effects on ecologically relevant behaviors remain poorly understood, particularly in estuarine systems. Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), such as fluoxetine, are of particular concern due to the conserved role of serotonin in regulating behavior across vertebrates. Here, we investigated how acute exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of fluoxetine influences anti-predator behavior in Gulf killifish (Fundulus grandis), a key estuarine fish commonly found in saltmarsh habitats. Killifish were exposed to control (0 ng/L), low (17.8 ng/L), and high (596 ng/L) fluoxetine concentrations and subsequently tested in the presence …

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Foraging Plasticity And Mercury Contamination In Red-Legged Kittiwakes: A Multiple Stressor Perspective, Sam E. Clay May 2026

Foraging Plasticity And Mercury Contamination In Red-Legged Kittiwakes: A Multiple Stressor Perspective, Sam E. Clay

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Arctic seabirds are facing increasing stress from climate change, yet the interactive effects of multiple stressors on behavior remain poorly understood. Adopting a multiple stressor perspective promises to advance understanding of avian behavioral responses to climate change, as climate change is exposing Arctic and subarctic animals to a complex set of stressors rather than a single stressor in isolation. Using the red-legged kittiwake (Rissa brevirostris) as a model, I examined how multiple stressors, including mercury (Hg) exposure, shifting wind conditions, and varying foraging conditions linked to sea surface temperature (SST) may interact to constrain behavioral plasticity and energetically expensive behavior …

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The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Host: Fleas And The History Of Pikas In North America, Josh Pletcher May 2026

The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Host: Fleas And The History Of Pikas In North America, Josh Pletcher

All NMU Master's Theses

Parasite phylogenetics can offer windows into the cryptic evolutionary history of hosts, often highlighting events that are not recorded by the phylogenetics of the host. Pikas (small lagomorphs) host a diverse parasite community comprising endoparasites (e.g., coccidians, nematodes, and cestodes) and ectoparasites (e.g., fleas and mites). Phylogenetic analysis of pika endoparasites has revealed pikas evolved in Asia and colonized North America in two waves, and that contact between these two pika lineages allowed parasites to be transferred from one lineage to another and to survive the extinction of their original host. To uncover these cryptic histories, understanding the biogeography of …

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Gaining Mussel: Evaluating Reintroduction Success Of Native Freshwater Mussels In Nebraska And Eastern Wyoming, Travis A. Moore May 2026

Gaining Mussel: Evaluating Reintroduction Success Of Native Freshwater Mussels In Nebraska And Eastern Wyoming, Travis A. Moore

School of Natural Resources: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Freshwater mussels are one of the most imperiled groups of organisms in North America, with over two-thirds of species considered threatened, endangered, or of special concern. These long-lived bivalves are essential to stream ecosystems, acting as filter feeders that improve water quality and as indicators of aquatic health. In Nebraska and Wyoming, native mussel populations have declined sharply due to habitat modification, pollution, and reduced connectivity. Two species of particular concern are the Plain Pocketbook Lampsilis cardium, listed as Tier I at-risk in Nebraska, and the Fatmucket Lampsilis siliquoidea, a Tier II at-risk species. In response, state agencies …

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Ontogeny And The Effects Of Perinatal Stress In The First Immature Skeleton Of Teleoceras Aepysoma (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae), Joe Gajewski May 2026

Ontogeny And The Effects Of Perinatal Stress In The First Immature Skeleton Of Teleoceras Aepysoma (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae), Joe Gajewski

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Recovery of an immature fossil rhinoceros (Teleoceras aepysoma) skeleton (ETMNH 32999) from the Gray Fossil Site in Tennessee offers the first insights into the ontogeny of the species. ETMNH 32999 is interpreted to be a subadult male in an age class equivalent to ~17-20% of potential lifespan. Comparative analyses support the hypothesis that subadults of related taxa are typically ~91% of average adult size in most dimensions. However, certain cranial dimensions are substantially lower than expected in ETMNH 32999, averaging only ~74% of the average conspecific adult. Such departure from typical growth rates is suggested to be attributable …

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Feeding Ecology In Coastal Systems, Randi L. Cannon May 2026

Feeding Ecology In Coastal Systems, Randi L. Cannon

Graduate Theses and Dissertations (2019 - present)

Oysters (Crassostrea virginica) are critical foundation species in estuaries, providing numerous ecological and economic benefits. However, oyster populations have diminished worldwide. Effective oyster restoration and aquaculture require a mechanistic understanding of the physiological and environmental factors that govern oyster feeding, growth, and resilience under changing coastal conditions. We investigated how oyster ploidy and environmental conditions influenced oyster feeding and investigated how changes in abiotic conditions affected behavioral performance of oyster drills (Stramonita spp.), a key oyster predator. To better understand feeding responses and behaviors of both predator and prey we 1) used in-situ filter feeding assays to determine if feeding …

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Enhancing Walleye (Ogaa) Recruitment: Evaluating Assisted Reproduction As A Mitigation Strategy, Douglass Keiser May 2026

Enhancing Walleye (Ogaa) Recruitment: Evaluating Assisted Reproduction As A Mitigation Strategy, Douglass Keiser

Biology Graduate Theses

Over the past several decades, cold- and cool-water fish populations across the Upper Midwest, including Minnesota and Wisconsin, have shown troubling signs of decline. Among the most affected is the walleye/Ogaa (Sander vitreus), a species deeply embedded in the ecological balance, cultural identity, and economic vitality of the region, and central to the lifeways, treaty-reserved rights, and resource stewardship of Tribal Nations, including Ojibwe communities across the Upper Midwest. Despite ongoing stocking efforts and harvest regulations, many lake systems have experienced persistent declines in natural recruitment, prompting resource agencies to investigate the underlying causes. One such system is …

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A Series Of Investigations On The L. Cornutus Host System And Bivesiculid Sp. Cercariae, Briana K. Zaffiro May 2026

A Series Of Investigations On The L. Cornutus Host System And Bivesiculid Sp. Cercariae, Briana K. Zaffiro

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Rising global temperatures are likely modulating parasite-host interactions, yet the direction and magnitude of these changes remain uncertain. Rarely are these interactions viewed from both a host and parasite perspective. Using both CTmax, or Critical Thermal Maximum, and Clark-type polarographic oxygen microelectrodes, the physiological metabolic effects are investigated. CTmax is examined in Common Shiners, Luxilis cornutus, and is shown to be modulated by parasitism: uninfected fish had the highest CTmax average of 37.0°C, whereas heavily infected fish had decreased CTmax averaging 35°C. Prior to the parasite metabolic investigation, a suitable medium was determined, as …

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Aggression And Fish Welfare: Challenges And Opportunities, Christine M. Soper, Peter D. Dijkstra Apr 2026

Aggression And Fish Welfare: Challenges And Opportunities, Christine M. Soper, Peter D. Dijkstra

Animal Sentience

Oldfield & Bonano’s (2024) [O&B] target article discusses the wellbeing and sociality of bony fishes. Many fish species, such as cichlids, are not only social but territorial. Aggression is normal, but territorial aggression in a captive environment can have a negative impact on welfare. Aggression-related injuries and deaths are prevalent in pet stores as well as research settings. We discuss the need to develop effective methods to minimize the negative consequences of aggression.

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An Integrative Description Of Euscorpius Diagorasi Sp. N. From Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Konstantinos Kalaentzis, Francesco Frigioni, Eliza Kaitetzidou, Alessio Iannucci, Alexandros Triantafyllidis Apr 2026

An Integrative Description Of Euscorpius Diagorasi Sp. N. From Rhodes, Greece (Scorpiones: Euscorpiidae), Konstantinos Kalaentzis, Francesco Frigioni, Eliza Kaitetzidou, Alessio Iannucci, Alexandros Triantafyllidis

Euscorpius

The genus Euscorpius Thorell, 1876 comprises a diverse and taxonomically challenging group of scorpions in the Mediterranean, with Greece representing one of its principal centers of diversity. In this study, we provide an integrative description of Euscorpius diagorasi sp. n., a new species from Rhodes Island, Greece. The new species is described on the basis of adult male and female morphology and mitochondrial COI sequence data. It is a small oligotrichous species characterized by a total length of approximately 21–25 mm, pale yellow to light brown coloration with darker reddish-brown pedipalps, pectinal tooth count of 8 in the male …

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Hot Cities, Cool Lizards: Do College Campuses Create Urban Oases For Wildlife?, Ethan Heck, Javier Monzon Phd Apr 2026

Hot Cities, Cool Lizards: Do College Campuses Create Urban Oases For Wildlife?, Ethan Heck, Javier Monzon Phd

Seaver College Research And Scholarly Achievement Symposium

Urban wildlife may experience stress due to the Urban Heat Island Effect. On the other hand, urban wildlife may experience relief, especially in arid ecosystems, due to the Urban Oasis Effect. The objective of this study was to test whether college campuses in southern California act as heat islands or oases for wildlife. We analyzed how temperature and water availability of microhabitats relate to the physiology of a widespread and common cold-blooded animal, the Western Fence Lizard (Sceloporus occidentalis). We logged environmental conditions in lizard hotspots at 11 university campuses across southern California and measured the hydration of lizards at …

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Forest Characteristics And Avian Community Differences Among Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga Cerulea) Use Types, Dustin Kohler Apr 2026

Forest Characteristics And Avian Community Differences Among Cerulean Warblers (Setophaga Cerulea) Use Types, Dustin Kohler

ATU Scholars Symposium

Avian species are often used to measure the health of an ecosystem, in part because the specific forest structure can significantly impact the avian community. A heterogeneous landscape can support a more diverse avian community and benefit specialist species like the Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea), a rapidly declining, neotropical migrant that can be found in large deciduous forests. The Ozark Mountains of northwestern Arkansas represent a small core area for the species, but at all sites in the upland Ozarks where Cerulean Warbler research has been conducted, there are fewer individuals than there were twenty years ago; some …

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Fish Community Assessment Of Goose Pond Natural Area, Macy Sparks Apr 2026

Fish Community Assessment Of Goose Pond Natural Area, Macy Sparks

ATU Scholars Symposium

Natural areas play an integral role in the preservation and conservation of unique ecosystems (i.e., natural wetlands). However, many natural areas have never had a biological inventory of species utilizing these areas. Goose Pond Natural Area (Conway County and Pope County, Arkansas) is one of those natural areas lacking species occurrence data. We addressed this data gap by sampling fish species across multiple habitat types (shallow woody wetland, open grassy wetland, and stream). We employed multiple gear types (mesh umbrella minnow traps, seines, gill nets, mini-fyke nets, and backpack electrofishing) in hopes of increasing species detection. Sites within the natural …

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Intermediates Or Intermedius? An Examination Of Lotic Sternotherus In Baldwin And Mobile Counties, Al, Peyton A. Wilson Apr 2026

Intermediates Or Intermedius? An Examination Of Lotic Sternotherus In Baldwin And Mobile Counties, Al, Peyton A. Wilson

Theses

The Southeastern United States is a biodiversity hotspot, and turtles are no exception to the rule. This is particularly true for the genus Sternotherus. Alabama is the only state home to all six species of Sternotherus, including the recently described Intermediate Musk Turtle (Sternotherus intermedius). It was thought that the Perdido River was the western boundary of Sternotherus intermedius; however, surveys in recent years produced questionable individuals in several small watersheds feeding into the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, bringing the species true range into question, as well as the question of if this species has hybridized with its congener, …

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Comparing Head Shape Of Polymorphic Subterranean E. Latitans And Subterranean E. Sp. 4, Brandon Chapa, Jordan Cosgrove, Lizzeth Holguin Apr 2026

Comparing Head Shape Of Polymorphic Subterranean E. Latitans And Subterranean E. Sp. 4, Brandon Chapa, Jordan Cosgrove, Lizzeth Holguin

Posters - 2026

Eurycea latitans (E. latitans) from Honey Creek Cave and unnamed Eurycea species from New Braunfels, Texas (E. sp. 4) are two paedomorphic subterranean species. E. latitans is polymorphic, meaning it also exists as a surface species. Similarities in morphology of subterranean salamander species may be due to convergent evolution as a result of living in similar environments. These similarities include having flatter, wider heads, and wider mouths than surface species (Tovar et al. 2025). Variation may also exist among different subterranean salamander species. Texas Eurycea salamanders display “complex patterns of morphological divergence”, suggesting that isolation and local environmental pressures can …

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Beluga Buddies: The Preferred Social Network Of Belugas In Managed Care, Valery Marinelarena, Diamond Garcia Apr 2026

Beluga Buddies: The Preferred Social Network Of Belugas In Managed Care, Valery Marinelarena, Diamond Garcia

Posters - 2026

Belugas societies are not fixed  and group composition is everchanging. Group composition can also influence behavior. This study aims to examine the preferred social networks and the role age plays in the behavioral diversity within a group of managed care belugas housed at Sea World San Antonio. Results Supported TYO had a preferred, non-random social network and ATL performing more chinslaps than TYO.

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Teeth That Tell Time: Elemental Analysis From Shark Teeth, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, David Turner Apr 2026

Teeth That Tell Time: Elemental Analysis From Shark Teeth, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez, David Turner

Research Papers

Sharks (Chondrichthyes) have hunted in the oceans for over 400 million years, their teeth leaving history behind, constantly becoming a part of the fossilization process (Worm et al. 2013). Their survival throughout 5 major extinctions is due to their ability to adapt easily with slow metabolism, a wide range of diet, and an efficient physiology. Shark teeth are vital to the hunting and consumption of their prey, making it a point for scientists to study them. Their tooth minerals contain fluorapatite in their enameloid, and dentin in the “root” of the tooth, with extinct species containing dentin and hydroxyapatite in …

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Teeth That Tell Time: Elemental Analysis From Shark Teeth, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez Apr 2026

Teeth That Tell Time: Elemental Analysis From Shark Teeth, Gisele-Elizabeth Perez

Posters - 2026

Sharks (Chondrichthyes) have hunted in the oceans for over 400 million years, their teeth leaving history behind, constantly becoming a part of the fossilization process (Worm et al. 2013). Their survival throughout 5 major extinctions is due to their ability to adapt easily with slow metabolism, a wide range of diet, and an efficient physiology. Shark teeth are vital to the hunting and consumption of their prey, making it a point for scientists to study them. Their tooth minerals contain fluorapatite in their enameloid, and dentin in the “root” of the tooth, with extinct species containing dentin and hydroxyapatite in …

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Mapping Sensory Landscapes: Distribution And Arrangement Of The Anterior Lateral Line System In Texas Catfish, Tatiana Flores, Ruben Tovar Apr 2026

Mapping Sensory Landscapes: Distribution And Arrangement Of The Anterior Lateral Line System In Texas Catfish, Tatiana Flores, Ruben Tovar

Research Papers

Fish have a system of sensory organs known as the lateral line system. This system contains numerous mechanoreceptive neuromasts and electroreceptive ampullary organs (Northcutt et al, 2000). Neuromasts are small, hair-like structures located within canals in the lateral line system just under the fish’s skin and are open to the environment through small pores visible on its skin (Parker, 2025). Water flows into these canals through the pores which stimulates the sensitive hair cells, resulting in electrical signals sent to the fish’s brain. The brain interprets these signals and creates “images” of the fish’s surroundings, helping it to see even …

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Does Social Grouping Influence Object Play By Belugas?, Javier Obiltas, Phillip Clayton Apr 2026

Does Social Grouping Influence Object Play By Belugas?, Javier Obiltas, Phillip Clayton

Posters - 2026

Play is defined as voluntary behavior that differs from functional behaviors and typically occurs in low-stress environments. In cetaceans, object play has been linked to development, motor skill practice, and social learning. Play behavior is an important factor of development in belugas, because belugas are social animals that live and interact within groups, the composition of these groups or "groupings" might influence their play behaviors. Understanding how said groupings may affect the play rates may help researchers better understand the development of behavior and social dynamics of the beluga groupings. The purpose of this study was to see whether grouping …

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Does Shape Matter?: How Salamander Head Morphology Shifts Based On Environment, Caitlyn Pinaga, Naomi Ramirez, Sonia Cerrillo Apr 2026

Does Shape Matter?: How Salamander Head Morphology Shifts Based On Environment, Caitlyn Pinaga, Naomi Ramirez, Sonia Cerrillo

Posters - 2026

Groundwater salamanders of the genus Eurycea represent a diverse group of amphibians inhabiting the aquifer systems of central Texas, where both surface-dwelling and fully subterranean species coexist. Subterranean habitats impose extreme selective pressures, including complete darkness, limited nutrient availability, and stable environmental conditions, which drive convergent morphological traits such as eye reduction or loss, decreased pigmentation, and elongation of appendages. A key evolutionary pattern seen in these systems is sensory compensation, in which the reduction of one sensory modality, in this case vision, is accompanied by the enhancement of others. In aquatic salamanders, this often involves expansion of the lateral …

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Smell Over Sight: Determining Levels Of Olfactory Gene Expression Between Surface And Subterranean Eurycea Salamanders, Sonia Cerrillo, Iliana Melendez, Naomi Ramirez Apr 2026

Smell Over Sight: Determining Levels Of Olfactory Gene Expression Between Surface And Subterranean Eurycea Salamanders, Sonia Cerrillo, Iliana Melendez, Naomi Ramirez

Posters - 2026

In the karst aquifers of central Texas, including the Edwards and Trinity systems, organisms live in an environment defined by constant temperatures, total darkness, and scarce food resources. These conditions have driven the evolution of salamanders in the genus Eurycea, particularly those that have adapted to subterranean life. Cave-dwelling species like Eurycea rathbuni exhibit hallmark “blind salamander” traits, including educed eyes, loss of pigmentation, and flattened head morphology. In contrast, surface-dwelling relatives such as Eurycea nana and Eurycea sosorum retain fully developed eyes and pigmentation, while some species like Eurycea latitans display both surface and subterranean forms across different populations.

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