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The Bracted twistflower (Streptanthus bracteatus) is Federally Threatened The Bracted twistflower (Streptanthus bracteatus) is an elusive  species that can only be found on the southern edge of the Edward’s Plateau region in Central Texas. Historically, this plant thrived in habitats with adequate sunlight and exposure to beneficia

April 2025 Featured ECO Artist: Juliet WhitsettArtwork and Species works by Juliet Whitsett changing DAILY through Bioblitz on the Trail!The Final Exhibition for TEMPO on the Trail I Want You Around, 2025 | WATCH RECAP VIDEO HERE Travis County endangered and threatened species, pigment prints of digital works Image by Charles Heppner 'I Want Y

Yellow-billed Cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus) | Western Population considered federally threatened.   Yellow-billed cuckoos are reclusive riparian birds that visit North America briefly during the summer breeding season. They undertake an arduous migration to and from South America’s Grand Chaco region, where they spend winter. The onset

Tooth Cave Spider (Tayshaneta myopica) | Federally Endangered Karst Arachnid The Tooth Cave spider (Tayshaneta myopica) is a nearly translucent, cave-dwelling arachnid that spends most of its life suspended beneath small, delicate sheet webs. Measuring just 1.6 mm (1/16 in), it is notoriously difficult to spot, though its delicate legs and body sh

Tooth Cave Pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana) | Federally Endangered Arachnid Hidden deep within the limestone caves of western Travis County, Texas, the Tooth Cave pseudoscorpion (Tartarocreagris texana) is a tiny yet formidable predator. Measuring just 4 mm (5/32") long, this eyeless arachnid thrives in total darkness, using its sharp pince

Tooth Cave Ground Beetle (Rhadine persephone) | Federally Endangered Cave Insect     Named after Persephone, queen of the underworld, the Tooth Cave ground beetle (Rhadine persephone) spends its life in the karst caves beneath North Austin, perfectly adapted to the darkness. This reddish, flightless beetle uses its long legs and antennae

Kretschmarr Cave Mold Beetle (Texamaurops reddelli) | Federally Endangered Insect Deep beneath Texas’ Edwards Plateau, the tiny Kretschmarr Cave mold beetle (Texamaurops reddelli) lives in total darkness. Less than 1/8 inch long, this reddish-brown rare beetle has no use for eyes. Instead, it relies on sensitive antennae and legs to detect a

State & Federally Endangered Mollusk    The Texas Pimpleback is a rare freshwater mussel found in the spring-fed rivers and streams of the Colorado River basin in Texas. These mussels belong to an ancient group of aquatic animals that evolved from marine mollusks over 400 million years ago. As filter feeders, Texas Pimpleback plays

Balcones Spike (Fusconaia iheringi) | State & Federally Endangered Mollusk   Balcones Spike is an endangered freshwater mussel found in spring-fed streams and rivers of Central Texas. Of the 52 freshwater mussel species in Texas, 25% are found nowhere else in the world—including the Balcones Spike. Like other mussels, it has a uniq

Thank you SXSW! At this year’s SXSW EDU & Interactive Expo, I shared an installation of eight artworks  at a pop-up show at the Expo Center. Each of the images included science-informed information highlighting the rich biodiversity of  SXSW's host state, Texas. Designed as a self-guided experience, the installation featured QR