Can a "mudpuppy" morph like a "axolotl" can?

[steve]

Can a "mudpuppy"(Necturus) morph like a "axolotl"(Ambystoma) can?


*ALSO: was at a pet store, What's A GOOD WAY to tell a mudpuppy/axolotl/tiger sallie larvae from each other.

Im thinking from photos that mudpuppys are somewhat easy but the other two seem the same.


Steve

[Ralf]

Mudpuppies (Family Proteidae, Genus Necturus) as well as their close relative in Europe, Proteus anguinus are not able to morph anymore (as well as Amphiuma, Pseudobranchus, Siren, Typhlomolge and Typhlotriton to name some more).

Ralf

[nate]

Just want to point out that Amphiumas do in fact metamorphose and lose their gills, even though they retain gill slits. They rely on lungs as adults. I know some texts call this "incomplete metamorphoses".

Typhlotritons do metamorphose, I've posted a picture of a morphed adult here.

http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/985/962.html?1027372673

[Ralf]

Thanks for the update and the picture, Nate. You're exactly right. You don't get a land-living salamander by trying to induce metamorphosis in these species, was what I wanted to say.
Obviously this doesn't hold true for Typhlotriton. As my literature tells me, Typhlotriton spelaeus is the only blind cave-dwelling salamander that loses its gills and transforms. My fault.

Ralf