Hypomelanistic A.texanum?

[Kansamander]

Our ponds fill up with A.texanum larvae, and I noticed & netted this individual the other day. Would it be right to think it's hypomelanistic? Wild type for comparison.

Also, another larvae at the all-you-can-eat daphnia buffet!

 

[Kansamander]

Some updates pics

 

[Kansamander]

All my other smallmouth have morphed ages ago, but not this one yet, for some reason. If it stays neotenic, I'll just keep it like a miniature axolotl I suppose ?.

Do neoteny and hypomelanism go together?

 

[gientki]

Hello,

melanophores expression in phenotype is partially connected with hormones in some animals. There is a possibility that the mutation goes for some kind of hormone deficiency.

Best wishes
Nice find by the way!

 

[Kansamander]

Good to know - thanks! I have the tank propped at an angle, and he/she has begun to venture shallow half out of water, but the gills haven't shrunk accordingly like the others. I really kind of hope it stays neotenic!

 

[Kansamander]

for any interested, gills never went away, and her fins "re-webbed" (if that's a word). So, I have her in a 2.5gal tank worth in 3 inches of fresh spring water, as she's thriving. Ese tually, she's a miniature hypo axolotl. Eats mosquito larvae and small earthworm bits. About 2.5 inches long.

 

[Kansamander]

Moved to a custom long I built from glass display shelves. End is walled off (rocks hot glued) which allows for filtration with minimal current. Next year I'll be looking very hard for more.

 

[Otterwoman]

Looks really great! What an odd little animal!

 

[matamander]

I'm loving the updates, keep 'em coming.

 

[Kansamander]

Update - still going strong, no morphing... hunt for more begins in a month or so!

 

[Dnmohr]

Update - still going strong, no morphing... hunt for more begins in a month or so!

NAGs?

I wonder if these are similar to NAGs. They are infertile as it's been described similar to down syndrome.
I'm not sure if I'm allowed to link to Strohl's Herptiles Facebook, but here's his write up:

Identifying characteristics of a NAG:

1. Melanophores are visible in the eyes, with few scattered over the face, back and gill stalks, except...
2. Melanophores are abundant and clustered into spots on the tail, with the greatest density at the tip and margins of the caudal fin.
3. Iridophores are abundant in the eyes, gill stalks, and legs. Few, if any, are on the body. They are so abundant in the eye that only the pupil of the eye appears dark.

The second point matches what you have with yours with the melanophores being on the tail.