Cynops cyanurus larvae (Part II)

[TJ]

 

[TJ]

I finally managed to get a decent shot of the eyes of the newly hatched larvae, which are blue:

(Message edited by TJ on November 30, 2005)

 

[terry]

Very impressive photo of a single larva, Tim! Both of them! The eyes of some of my T.pygmaeus are white when they hatch but this colour soon turns to the usual dark pigmentation. The balancers of the larvae are very thin but present as they grow somewhat.

How many of your larvae resemble the one with developed fore-legs, Tim?

 

[TJ]

Thanks Terry. I got my EOS 20D back from the Canon repair shop today so I can't wait to try it out, with its higher resolution than with the Canon Rebel used to take the above shots.

As for that larva, that's the biggest one I have it seems. Well it looks big in the photo but it's still quite small as can be judged by the size of the grains of substrate.

I really wonder if they are getting enough to eat, and am considering a method I read about in some information from the Axoltl Colony, namely regularly removing larvae for feedings, using a turkey baster, and then returning them afterward, They'd be fed in a separate container where the brine shrimp hatchlings would be more concentrated. I'm thinking it's either that or move them all to smaller tubs to raise. Given the size of the tank they're in now, I really have to put a lot of BS hatchlings in there for all of them to get something, especially since they don't move about during feedings (the BS has to appear in front of the stationary larva before it will be eaten...).

I looked around for daphnia, including in the ponds near by house, but found none. Seems I have little alternative but to proceed with BS as I'm not ready to risk returning them to the adult tank to feed on whatever's available there. So far so good though, they're growing

 

[TJ]

This is a continuation of the thread "Cynops cyanurus larvae (Part 1)) located at:

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/48261.html?1133433938

 

[TJ]

I thought this might be interesting, a comparison between two C. cyanurus larvae at different stages of development:

...these having been taken with the 20D

Those brown specks seen about the larvae in the 2nd and 3rd photos are brine shrimp hatchlings.

(Message edited by TJ on December 02, 2005)

 

[TJ]

You may have noticed that the more developed one above appears to have (almost) absorbed its balancer. Here's one which is between those two in terms of development but which still retains its balancer:

(Message edited by TJ on December 02, 2005)

 

[terry]

Excellent photographs mate!

Very good examples! You are right! The balancers can be seen clearly in all the photos! Lovely shots! It seems that the larvae go through a complete change! The balancer is usually absorbed when the fore feet are formed although my pygmaeus larvae retain the balancers till the hind feet are formed. The balancers appear wispy as the larva matures and are probably most prominent in a newly hatched larva.

Thanks once again for the comparison photos Tim! Keep em coming! (And now I know what I want for X-mas... a new camera?

)

 

[TJ]

Thanks Terry. it sure is interesting how the larvae change appearance as they develop.

That's a bottom view

(Message edited by TJ on December 04, 2005)

 

[john]

It sure is..

~John

 

[TJ]

Here's one that's more in the middle, still having the yellow coloration of newly hatched larvae yet getting darker in places:

(Message edited by TJ on December 04, 2005)

 

[TJ]

(Message edited by TJ on December 04, 2005)

 

[john]

Cool. Newts go through the most amazing changes..

~John

 

[TJ]

I was pleased to notice one this evening taking tubifex worms, having almost graduated from brine shrimp hatchlings.

Going, going...

Gone!

 

[TJ]

 

[terry]

Yay! back legs are forming! It is most certainly growing up! Wonderful pictures! The clarity of the photos are so sharp, you could almost count the tiny planarians swiming between the gravel (if those are indeed planaria). I really like the larvae with branchy gills.

 

[TJ]

Thanks, though I went a little heavy on the flash in that last pic. I've finally set up my tripod and Henk's given me a few camera use tips (I just haven't implemented them yet!). I can't wait til they start looking like this one shown in a pic taken by Henk:

http://elib.cs.berkeley.edu/imgs/512x768/1111_1111/1111/0633.jpeg

Anybody know if that's normal coloration?

But then Harry's "Kweichow Feuerbauchmolch"

larvae were so light-colored!
See: http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/24609.jpg

What's the deal?

(Message edited by TJ on December 10, 2005)

 

[TJ]

OK, here's a picture taken using the tripod. The difference is impressive!

This looks odd. What's going on with the balancer here...?

 

[TJ]

Ah hah, never mind, upon investigation it turns out to be not part of the larvae at all, but some sort of creature

 

[joseph]

Tim: About how big are they now? The orientalis larvae that hatched at around the same time as yours also have back legs.

The little creature looks like a Cyclops...carrying egg sacs.