Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression from la

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BillMcGighan
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Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression from la

Post by BillMcGighan »

Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression from larvae to adult.


If this can help in field identification, this is another one of those “for what it’s worth” posts for anyone interested, or would like to add more.

This is similar to “Marbled salamander (Ambystoma opacum) progression from larva” at:
http://www.fieldherpforum.com/forum/vie ... 66#p265066



As many of you know, Yellow Spotted Salamanders (Ambystoma maculatum) lay clear and opaque egg masses early in the year. Both egg masses are viable.

Imageeggs by Bill McGighan, on Flickr




The cells of the eggs start dividing quickly:

Image1 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr

Image2 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr

Image4 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



(I think I saw this creature in the movie version of Dune.) :lol: ;)



Image5 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



They turn into pilot whales: ;)



Image8 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr

Image9 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


They look and swim like fish:



Imagea10 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


Imagea11 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



Imagea12 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


Imagea13 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


ImageA14 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



The assert their dominance on other pond members by stepping on their heads! :lol: ;)



ImageA15 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


Dorsal view sees them darkening and a hint of Xanthophores.


ImageA16 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


ImageA17 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



Metamorphisis begins – gills and tail are being absorbed:


ImageA18 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr


Metamorphisis complete:


ImageA20 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



Animal really darkens and silvery sides are clear. Certainly a herper can clearly ID this animal at this time.


ImageB21 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



ImageB23 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr



Different animal, but typical:

Image_MG_6703 by Bill McGighan, on Flickr
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Fieldherper
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by Fieldherper »

Very cool, thanks!

FH
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Carl Brune
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by Carl Brune »

Very nice!
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Josh Holbrook
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by Josh Holbrook »

Great stuff Bill. What were you using for the macro shots?
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by BillMcGighan »

FH,
Thanks B. I hope it's useful to someone in the field.


Carl,
Thanks. I was inspired to do these little projects from your Pseudotriton larvae paper that was such a help to me defining P. ruber from P. montanus larvae.


Hey Josh,

Hope all is going well on your side of the mountains.

I'm going to make our real photography folks cringe here, but here's what I used:
Canon camera
105mm sigma macro lens (sometimes with a doubler)
Usually iso 400
Usually F8 or F16
tripod
Canon speedlite flash at a 45 degree angle, with cheap diffuser.
Some creative editing for lighting.

Because of the 18 megpixel resolution, most were cropped at 50%

Regards, Bill
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justinm
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by justinm »

This is really outstanding, thanks. I stared at each photo for a long time.
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by BillMcGighan »

Thanks Justin,
Hope all is well with you and yours.

I stared at each photo for a long time.
I do that allot with sun! ;) :lol:
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Wonderful images, Bill! Thank you!
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BillMcGighan
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by BillMcGighan »

Thanks, Tamara,
Hope you and Ray are doing great, especially after the past few years of active weather systems.

Now you need to to do a similar progression of Rainbow Snakes! :lol: ;)
Tamara D. McConnell
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Re: Spotted salamander (Ambystoma maculatum) progression fro

Post by Tamara D. McConnell »

Now you need to to do a similar progression of Rainbow Snakes!
Way above my pay grade. That's a job for the Louisiana guys. They have got the rainbow snake mojo going on in a big way.
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