Question: About Morphing axolotls...

[naymo]

I was just wondering if axoltols morph at a certain age, what I mean by this is; I understand that a morph is the "adult form" of an axie, so does this mean that if an axie morphs, it is therefore a sexually mature adult?
Or do axies morph at any stage in their larval form?

Sorry if this is a silly question, I was just looking around the sal forum and this question came to mind.

 

[Bellabelloo]

I am pretty sure adult and sub adult axolotl can morph when ever there is a need.

 

[oceanblue]

It's my understanding the main hormone involved in morphing (in fact metamorphosis to give it its full title) is thyroxine or tri-iodothyronine which is derived from thyroxine but stress hormones (Cortisone and related compounds) play a role and work with thyroxine in amphibian metamorphosis. In most amphibians stress triggers cortisone and this causes early metamorphosis. A larva will stay aquatic longer if conditions are good.

Axolotls have a genetic block of the thyroid stimulating hormone which triggers the growth of the thyroid and prevents thyroxine manufacture and are generally very resistant to morphing. Trying to induce morphing by stressing them such as drying them out is more likely to kill them than overcome the metabolic block.

As always there are a few exceptions, possibly animals with a mutant gene permitting thyroid hormone development.

A great deal of knowledge of development as well as understanding of thyroid and pituitary function has resulted from work on amphibians.

Axolotls metamorphose easily and reliably if placed in water containing thyroxine, but if the axolotl is too young you get a very small and difficult to raise salamander, if done too late you get a large and very short lived salamander or one that dies in morphing and if done at a time and size approximating to tiger salamander metamorphosis you get a handsome salamander which has a greatly reduced life expectancy compared with a normal axolotl, and has lost that wonderful ability to repair injuries without scarring.

An adult axolotl is to all intents and purposes a sexually mature larva - the technical term is neoteny. When morphed they presumably can be in both non-breeding and breeding form.

It is possible, by giving anti-thyroid drugs, to prevent almost all amphibians metamorphosing, for instance producing giant xenopus tadpoles which eventually develop sexually despite being in larval form. If the treatment is stopped, because their skeletons have ossified in the larval form you do not get a normal adult.

 

[Breony]

Just wondering.....
I rescued this baby from the local pet-shop, she was starving and is skin and bones She has been in quarantine for about a week now, and doesnt seem to have any visible infections etc... yet. I'm keeping isolation for a few more weeks. My concern is the almost complete absence of gills. I have read that axies can undergo metamorphosis if environmental pressures force them to - is it possible that being in the shop not being fed could induce a change? (she had been there for a fair while - I'd been keeping my eye on her to see if they were going to make an effort to sort it out - and had been eating rocks and weed to fill her tummy. Im really surprised she lasted) Anyway, eating really well as soon as I brought her home, and there has been minimal, if any, regrowth of gills. I did catch her floating around the top of the water a couple nights ago...
Thanks,
B.

 

[Kaysie]

It could be just that your water has more oxygen, so it has no need to grow big fluffy gills.

 

[ianclick]

Hi Naymo,

One of the things about axolotls is that they appear to have been frozen in the larval developmental stage. At some stage in their evolution they would have morphed into the adult stage of their development similar to other salamander.

However now they morph very rarely due mainly to environmental factors but occasionally as a freak act of nature.

I believe this doesn't necessarily have any relation to sexual maturity and because axolotls reach sexual maturity in the larval stage I think it may be difficult to gauge.

Breony their are 2 external components to axolotl gills, gill stubs and gill filaments gill stubs both are able to absorb oxygen. Your axolotl still has its gill stubs so it will still be absorbing oxygen through the stubs and skin.

 

[Breony]

Thanks!
B.