Neoteny in Nurergus kaiseri?

[SludgeMunkey]

While I doubt there is such a thing as neoteny in Nueregus kaiseri. I have an interesting conundrum to present:

(Please do not go jumping off the deep end with this one folks...I am NOT making any claims here, just curious if this is what I am seeing or if I have a couple of very, very lucky late bloomers!)

I in fact own two CB/CH/CR N. kaiseri that are now 18 months old and have not morphed. They are the same size as their now terrestrial clutch mates (over 35mm SVL) but retain all larval characteristics. They do posses "interphase coloration" (is that the right term?) They show none of the usual morphological deformities I have experience with other species' runty and stunted larvae such as spinal deformities.

I have been unable to find any data on neoteny in kaiseri, though I seem to remember a bit about this being reported in croactus (or maybe strauchii!?!?) that I have been unable to recover.

Any and all input would be appreciated. I would post pictures, but all they would show is what appears to be pre-morphed kaiseri juveniles. Also, I am unable to provide any proof of their actual age other than my own statements, mostly as I have no idea how to "prove" beyond a doubt these are as old as they are other than that they are still living in the rearing tank their clutch mates were raised in.

 

[damien]

I never heard of neoteny in neurergus to be honest, but that can be just me

As far as I know neurergus morph often with fully adult colors. They just keep the gills for a while. I don't think it's strange in your case.

My N. strauchii barani juveniles that I got recently also morphed around 1.5 years of hatching. They morphed at around 4-5 cm, I believe.

I actually assumed that this was a normal thing for neurergus.

My current neurergus larvae (crocatus and derjugini) are still months away from morphing, so I can't say first hand how it goes.

 

[Azhael]

N.kaiseri is known for generally morphing at an advanced stage in captivity. Large, very well developed juveniles that retain the gills even though the coloration and body morphology are fully juvenile. I think some people have reported morphs that were large enough to be even called young subadults. I suposse it´s to be expected that the variability in development and growth that appears naturally in every species could produce 18 month kaiseri that retain their gills. The same way that siblings under the same conditions can take 1-3 years to become adult in certain species, siblings can morph at quite different times. It could also be a case of facultative neoteny, but in order to qualify for that i´d expect very large juveniles, even the beginnings of sexual maturity.

 

[Neotenic_Jaymes]

I have seen and raised hundreds of kaiseri. There always seem to be some late morphers. Usually the ones that retained their gills looked bigger then the morphed ones. Eventually they all morphed, they were kept at room temperature. I assume if they were kept in cooler elements they would of stayed larvae longer maybe into subadults.

I do have a small group of N. strauchii that still have their gills. These guys are 2 years old or just past the 2 year old mark. They still have little gills but obviously they serve no use anymore. Seems like Neurergus can retain their gills or stay larvae for long periods of time.