C. cyanurus larvae...& morphs (Part VI)

[TJ]

In the previous thread in this series on the development of C. cyanurus larvae...

"C. cyanurus larvae (Part V)"
http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/53559.html?1142011286

...Ian was asking about the size of C. cyanurus at metamorphosis compared with C. orientalis. Ed replied how C. cyanurus morph much larger than C. orientalis and how he has had them do so "at the same size as the smaller sized orientalis that you see in the pet stores."

Indeed, here's a shot of a C. orientalis young adult alongside a C. cyanurus larva that is close to metamorphosis:

<font size="-2">(C. orientalis on left, C. cyanurus on right)
</font>
The C. cyanurus larva is approximately 5 cm.

(Message edited by TJ on March 12, 2006)

 

[TJ]

Same two animals.
C. cyanurus on the left on both pics.

 

[TJ]

And Terry was asking about what's become of the light-colored larvae. Here's one of them (same one in both pics):

 

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

Ian, considering your past help with translations from Chinese, that's the least I can do

In a historical milestone, today I got my first ever C. cyanurus morph, and boy can it climb!

 

[ian]

Hey, it looks so cute, Congratulation.

well I still have one longer one that I have to translate. But got to wait till I am done school in two more months

 

[TJ]

Hehe...thanks! Good luck with school

Here's the same morph, measuring in at 5 cm:

 

[kylee]

haha! the little guy climbing out is classic.

 

[terry]

At last! morphs! Well done Tim! those larvae sure pulled it through well. I really would love to see what the pale one looks like when it is morphed

 

[hayden]

Very cool, Tim.

I was wondering. Did you build those little glass tanks yourself?

 

[TJ]

Thanks guys.

Hayden, that's a plastic container that forms the top part of a case for collectibles and figurines. They come in different sizes and shapes, and sell for the equivalent of 1-2 dollars at "100 yen shops" (I guess you have 99 cent or $1 shops over there? They're great as temporary holding containers (the one shown above was only in use for only a couple of minutes) and to use for taking pictures. But I use them most for catching stray crickets around my newt room

 

[TJ]

Here's the same morph as pictured above, having gradually become lighter in color:

(still only one morph)

 

[terry]

I often wonder what the pale morph would look like, Tim. This could come the closest? I do look forward to seeing the actual pale morph

 

[jennifer]

Hayden, here in the US, you can buy "display cubes" that are similar to the ones Tim has. They come in various sizes at Office Depot.
http://www.officedepot.com/ddSKU.do?level=SK&id=188914&x=22&Ntt=display+cube&y=14&uniqueSearchFlag=true&An=text

Tim, nice bunch of babies! I'll have to shoot some photos of my ensicauda to try to grab second place in the "cutest morphs" category.

(Oh drat, Andy's "shanjinglings" probably already took that prize!)

 

[TJ]

Terry, some larvae are still relatively light-colored but they don't stand out like before. I suspect they'll all turn out to be about the same when they morph. For all I know, a light-colored larva seen in one photo could be the very same larva as a dark-colored one in another photo, judgiung by the way individual adults change their color.

Best keep your eye on that truly pale one of Ed's. Any update, Ed?

Jen, thanks! Well, there's still 3rd place, so let's see those ensicauda!

(Message edited by TJ on March 23, 2006)

 

[TJ]

Morphs-in-waiting: