Taricha granulosa giganticus larvacus??

[david]

Hey Guys,
Help me out. Last year, I found a couple of small Taricha Granulosa larvas. I kept them long enough to morph, so I know they were Grannies. They were quite small, even up to the point of morphing. They were about 3 or 4 cm, and they were done with a waterborne existence.
Now, this year, from the same pond, I find several Taricha Granulosa larva (at least I am pretty doggone confident they are Grannies!), and they are MUCH larger, around 7 cm, if not more, and they still have their gills.
I wasn't aware of Taricha Grannies going into neotony or anything like that.
Anybody with more newt knowledge than me, could you help me out with what I am observing???

 

[s1ren]

Wow.

Pictures?

 

[jennifer]

Besides having gills, did they also have the larva-like tail and body shape? In other words, did they look like big larvae, or like newts with gills?

My guess is that, given a really good food source and no stress, they are able to reach a large size before they morph (or to extend the larval period). I'm just guessing though.

 

[david]

Jennifer,
they have all four legs, so they're at that stage, but it's still at the stage where they resemble larva. Big gills.
I'll put up a picture, hopefully, by tomorrow.
Stay tuned.

 

[pin-pin]

Hi David,

This year in northern California has been a wet one, and I'm not surprised that the larvae have not gone through metamorphosis (the pond here is still full, despite it being May!).

However, do post photos of the larva! It might be a different species!

 

[david]

Sorry, been so busy this week. Here's the pic finally.
To the left is a Taricha Granulosa that emerged from the water one year ago; to the right are a couple of larvae from the same pond from this year. I promise you, the one on the left NEVER got as big as a larva as the ones on the right already are.
Perhaps, as has been duly noted on this thread, it is because we have had so much more rain this year?

(Message edited by abiyoyo on May 26, 2006)

 

[david]

And here is the mother of the newt on the left.
I caught her last year and she laid eggs in my tank right away. Interestingly, she is missing one front foot, so I alternately call her "stumper" or "stumpie." She's a bit more clumsy than your average newt, but she gets around.