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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas has customarily recognized a |
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variety of official symbols as tangible representations of its |
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cultural heritage and natural history; and |
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WHEREAS, Among the most extraordinary of the state's |
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indigenous fauna is the Texas blind salamander, a small creature |
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that has been found only in Hays County, in the subterranean reaches |
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of the Edwards Aquifer around San Marcos; the vulnerability of this |
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salamander has been officially recognized since 1967, when it |
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appeared on the first endangered species list to be issued by the |
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U.S. government; and |
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WHEREAS, Though few in number, the Texas blind salamander |
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commands scientific attention because it is considered to be the |
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most highly adapted of all cave-dwelling salamanders; this |
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amphibian lives in complete darkness, unless pushed to the surface |
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by flowing water; having no need of sight, it sports only two black |
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dots as vestigial eyes; and |
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WHEREAS, About five inches long when mature, the Texas blind |
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salamander possesses a flat head, frail arms and legs, a long, |
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tapering tail, and a fringe of red external gills; its internal |
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organs are visible through its translucent skin; the top predator |
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in its habitat range, the salamander generally keeps to still |
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waters and is able to hunt by sensing water-pressure waves created |
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by its prey--tiny snails, shrimp, and other aquatic invertebrates; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas blind salamander was discovered in 1895, |
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when a well was sunk into a cavern to supply water to the Federal |
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Fish Hatchery in San Marcos; Leonhard Stejneger, curator of |
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reptiles and amphibians at what is now the National Museum of |
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Natural History, provided the original scientific description of |
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the animal, which is known variously as Typhlomolge rathbuni and |
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Eurycea rathbuni; and |
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WHEREAS, Serious collection of the Texas blind salamander was |
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begun in the 1970s and continues to the present time; salamanders |
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that are captured are turned over to the San Marcos National Fish |
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Hatchery and Technology Center, which operates a captive breeding |
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program for the animal; and |
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WHEREAS, A remarkable species, one about which we still have |
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much to learn, and a denizen of the most richly diverse aquifer on |
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earth, the Texas blind salamander is unique to the Lone Star State, |
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and it is indeed fitting that this rare creature be accorded special |
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recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate the Texas blind salamander as the official State |
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Amphibian of Texas. |
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Bonnen |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 30 was adopted by the House on March |
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22, 2007, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 30 was adopted by the Senate on May |
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10, 2007, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |