3 or 4 gills?

[kaliko22]

I have a silly question, I have seen that a lot of axolotl pictures show that there are 3 off shoots for the gills (sorry, do not know the technical term). My golden albino has 4 (one missing on left side that is growing back, assumed it was like his little missing arm from a tank mate before I got him)? So I was just curious on if this varies by type and/or age? I never noticed before that he had one more than some others.

 

[PandaHuggaz]

I would assume that it is a genetic mutation. Just like if you see an axolotl with more or less than 4 limbs. Interesting lotl you have there.

 

[axolotl lvr]

Oh wow i never noticed the amount of gills either!! either which way ur axie is adorable!!! loooove golden albinos!!!!

 

[Vas]

One of mine has 3 gills on each side, but has another gill coming out of the three on the right side. I don't think it is something to concern yourself with, very beautiful axie btw. Mine have much smaller gills.

 

[SapphireTigress]

Wow yours has such lovely long fluffy gills!

my girl has 3 on one side, four on the other
2 of her 3 are stuck together, forming a triangle.
She also has 5 toes on one of her back feet

Heres a pic of her funny gills ;P

 

[Kaysie]

5 toes on the back feet is the standard for ambystomatids. Triangle gills are not! What an interesting deformity!

 

[SapphireTigress]

i didnt know about the 5 toes thing, as she only has four on one foot, and the foot that has 5 the fifth is tiny and looks like an extra