Neotenic Triturus pygmaeus

[rubén]

I would like to show an spanish site with very interesting information and photographs about neotenic Triturus pygmaeus in southern mountains of Spain

http://www.sierradebaza.org/Fichas_fauna/00_Anfibios/05-04_triton-pigmeo/triton_pigmeo.htm

Unfortunately texts are in spanish, but I can translate for enthusiasts

 

[TJ]

Thanks a lot, Ruben!

That's a very interesting site with some truly incredible photographs, especially this one:

http://www.sierradebaza.org/Fichas_fauna/00_Anfibios/05-04_triton-pigmeo/3-DETALLE-BRANQUIAS-LARVA.jpg

 

[william]

yes, that was my favourite to. i didn't know this species had a neotenic form. could you send me a translation if you have the time?

 

[TJ]

William, you can easily get an approximate translation if you do the following:

1) go to: http://babelfish.altavista.com/

2) in the box located immediately beneath the <font color="0000ff">Translate a Web page</font> heading, delete the http:// that's in there already and paste in this address:

http://www.sierradebaza.org/Fichas_fauna/00_Anfibios/05-04_triton-pigmeo/triton_pigmeo.htm

3) in the <font color="0000ff">Select from and to languages</font> box, choose <font color="0000ff">Spanish to English</font> from the drop-down list

4) click <font color="0000ff">Translate</font> and wait 30 seconds or so

 

[rubén]

Well, I have read the translation of the article with http://babelfish.altavista.com/ , I think it's understandable more or less

.

Anyway, if someone have doubts or specific questions, will be a pleasure answer to all. I'm in contact with this group of herpetologists from Andalucía.

 

[francesco]

Are neotenic triturus pygmaeus quite common like for example in t vulgaris?

 

[rubén]

Absolutely not

were not known cases of neotenic T. pygmaeus before. Just only in one lake of the studied zone was detected neotenic newts, but on those mountains there are many points with similar characteristics and ecological conditions, so I wouldn't be surprised if someone discover another neotenic population in the future. When I was there 3 years ago unfortunately I didn't see newts because was at summer ( with 43 ºc!! ). I hope to photograph them in a near future

 

[michael]

Are neotenic Lissotriton (Triturus) vulgarius really so common?
I found one last weekend and this was the first one I´ve seen after more than 20 years of herping.

The bibliographical data are poor more or less and the "Lissotriton" part of the "Handbuch der Amphibien und Reptilien Europas" still seems to be unpublished.

Any suggestions?

Cheers
Michael

 

[sergé]

I have seen them quit often in the Netherlands. But it is typical for certain types of water. Lissotriton helveticus shows it even more often. But exact parameters are not always known, mostly it occurs in big deep waters (without fish and that is rare nowadays).

 

[michael]

Thank you Sergé,

Maybe you even have some citations?

Michael

 

[sergé]

I have, but somewhere at home. I'll come back to that.