Larva ID

[Otterwoman]

Can someone id this larva? It came from a fish sampling study in the Saratoga NY region. It's about an inch long. From a stream.

 

[SludgeMunkey]

My first impression was Necturus sp. but that doesn't feel right.

 

[Azhael]

I´d say that´s a larval Eurycea, but i can´t specify a particular species...

 

[Molch]

are you gonna hatch it out and see what it turns into ?

 

[Otterwoman]

are you gonna hatch it out and see what it turns into ?

It was from a sampling survey...unfortunately that means it is no longer alive.

I was thinking a dusky sal, myself.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

Can someone id this larva? It came from a fish sampling study in the Saratoga NY region. It's about an inch long. From a stream.

Its not a Necturus of any type. It does look like a Desmognathus larvae. I'd say somewhere along the lines of "lungless". Its still hard to say.

 

[John]

Eurycea bislineata.

 

[Greatwtehunter]

I have to agree with John. The eye stripe and double row of numerous spots are a dead giveaway.

 

[Lamb]

Just to throw my two cents in...

It doesn't look quite right for Eurycea. Sure, E. bislineata and cirrigera larvae have dorsolateral rows of spots, but the spots tend to be smaller (the spots on the many Eurycea larvae I've been finding in MS are). Also, Desmognathus conanti larvae have dorsolateral rows of spots, and they tend to be more pronounced and wider (at least from the pictures I've seen and keys I've read). But, as a disclaimer, I've still yet to run across Desmog. larvae. However, I have found what appear to be recent mets (maybe just a few months old?), and the spot pattern matches. As for the eye stripe, is it possible that the one pictured is one of the borders of the lighter eye stripe seen in Desmog.s?

It might be worth checking out the gill structure as well. If there are long, prominent rami present, then it'll be Eurycea.

Check this CalPhoto out:
CalPhotos: Desmognathus conanti; Spotted Dusky Salamander

 

[John]

Desmognathus larvae tend to have a rounded front of the head like the one in the photo you've linked. We're not seeing that here.

 

[Lamb]

Desmognathus larvae tend to have a rounded front of the head like the one in the photo you've linked. We're not seeing that here.

I've always wondered about that description. When they say rounded, they mean looking down at the dorsal side of the animal? Or is it in profile?

 

[John]

It's the front of the head when viewed from above.