C. cyanurus larvae

[TJ]

I'm not sure what to make of the center of the eye being white like this.
I don't recall that being the case with C. orientalis or other Cynops species.

 

[sergé]

Looks like a bit like Triturus cristatus/marmoratus larvae after hatching...the also have these striped patterns.
I saw some older larvae of cyanurus bred by Harry Dresens and they were very light coloured. Strange creatures...

 

[dot]

Congrats on the new baby!

 

[TJ]

Thanks Dot!

Strange indeed, Serg, even now.

It looks like a little bumblebee:

 

[henk]

Beautifull ...

 

[TJ]

Here's a ventral view of the same, taken today:

 

[paul]

Fantastic pics, Tim!
Congrats to your cyanurus breeding!
Did you measure its length?

Paul

 

[TJ]

Thanks!

When I measured it yesterday, it was 0.7 cm long.

Here it is again today:

 

[TJ]

 

[benjamin]

Is it eating yet, it looks like it has two little fins, I read about young larvae having tiny fins called stabilizers that let them rest on the ground. They eventually dissapear and are replaced by front legs. Somebody correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[TJ]

Yeah, but they're called "balancers" as far as I know.

For a description, see: http://www.caudata.org/forum/messages/13/13357.html

Here is a Hynobius dunni larvae showing the balancers:

To my recollection, Cynops larvae don't have them, though Tylototriton larvae do. Somebody please correct me if I'm wrong

 

[TJ]

On second thought, maybe they do. I see what looks like a balancer protruding from the area between the eye and the gill in the first pic at the top of this thread...

By the way, does anybody happen have this paper? If so, I'd appreciate being sent a copy...

Crawford, A. J., and D. B. Wake. 1998. Phylogenetic and evolutionary perspectives on an enigmatic organ: the balancer of larval caudate amphibians. Zoology 101:107-123.

Benjamin, I don't know if it is eating yet as I'm raising it in tank crud (or "muck" if you prefer), the same way I raised by Taricha larvae, as there are lots of tiny organisms in there to feed on. I just put in a clear case temporarily for the photo. It's a bit hard to observe in its regular container.

 

[jesper]

My Cynops orientalis larvae have balancers.

 

[TJ]

Nice to know, Jesper. Funny I hadn't noticed before.

Anyway, here is the cyanurus larvae today:

Also notice how the white dot (and it doesn't seem to have been a reflection of light) has disappeared from the center of the eye

 

[jesper]

Turned out my balancers were the beginning of frontlegs

Thought they were a little to far back....but still, they were born with their frontlegs then...not fully developed though.
Larvae noob...

 

[henk]

Well tim regarding reflections in the eye sometimes you can encounter stunnig effects as a consequence . Hee's a shot I made of a sea-fish in an aquarium , look at his eyes (sorry guys, it has no legs...)
http://www.bytephoto.com/photopost/showphoto.php?photo=29185&password=&sort=1&cat=500&page=1

 

[TJ]

Nice, Henk. But I am not entirely certain that was a reflection...

Well, don't ask me what happened to that last larvae. Lets just say I learned a lesson.

Anyway, reinforcements are on the way!

 

[john]

Larvae can use their balancers to stick to anything (glass, plants, plastic, you name it). Generally they use them when they first escape the egg jelly in order to hang hidden on plants while they finish the yolk in their stomachs - the balancers then shrink and disappear.

 

[garrison]

Hope it's no problem bringing up an old subject, but how are your C. cyanurus larvae doing Tim?