Endangered Species

Endangered Species of the San Marcos Springs(PDF, 5.5 MB)

Endangered Species

There are 8 known species listed as endangered or threatened by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and Texas Parks & Wildlife Departamednt, that live in the San Marcos region of the Edwards Aquifer, Spring Lake and the upper 4 miles of the San Marcos River. They include the Texas blind salamander, Fountain darter, Comal Springs riffle beetle, Comal Springs dyropid beetle, Peck's cave amphipod, San Marcos gambusia (which has not been seen in the wild for nearly 30 years), Texas wild-rice and the threatened San Marcos Salamander.

Critical Habitat is designated.

The upper San Marcos River is one of the most biologically diverse aquatic ecosystems known in the southwestern United States and has a number of endemic species that are isolated to the upper 4.5 miles of the river.

Texas Blind Salamander

Consequently the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Department and Texas Parks and Wildlife have designated the San Marcos Springs and Spring lake critical habitat. 'Critical habitat refers to a particular geographical area that contains all of the physical, chemical and biological attributes needed for the continued success of an endangered plant or animal and that may require special efforts for their management and protection.