We have created a 28 page educational adventure that allows kids to explore and learn about some of the world’s most rare animals: The cave dwelling Eurycea salamanders found in Central Texas! These bizarre creatures are the perfect subject matter for an activity book not only because of their peculiar evolutionary history, but because their fate is integrally woven with the future of both the Edwards Aquifer and the expansion of human development in the Central Texas area(one of the fastest growing areas in the world). Plus, its hard not to be interested in something this gnarly looking, right?
The book features 6 specific salamanders from the Edwards Aquifer region: The Barton Springs Salamander, Austin Blind Salamander, Jollyville Plateau Salamander, Georgetown Salamander, Salado Salamander, and Comal Blind Salamander. Each salamander has its own coloring page, as well as a page devoted to unique facts. There are also crossword puzzles, word searches, mazes, matching, vocabulary, maps, and other educational activities dispersed throughout the pages.
The book was created only after visiting the habitats and springs that these creatures live in, and interviewing the scientists and biologists who devote their time and energy to studying these fascinating amphibians.
Did you know biologists are using facial recognition software to identify specific salamanders as they track populations over time? The image below shows two salamander heads. This is the same salamander recaptured years later that a computer identified simply via the patterns on the head. Nate Bendik of the City of Austin and Dr. Benjamin Pierce of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Tx pioneered this type of research.
Happy salamandering.
