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Northwestern Salamander - Amybstoma gracile (Baird, 1859)
Pg. 2 - Eggs and Aquatic Larvae





observation link

 
Eggs
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Thes egg masses were found attached to sticks in small ponds in February in King County Washington.
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Egg mass, Humboldt County
© Spencer Riffle
Egg mass in early February, Humboldt County © Grayson B. Sandy Egg masses in early February, Humboldt County © Grayson B. Sandy
  Northwestern Salamander Eggs  
  Close-up of egg mass, Humboldt County
© Spencer Riffle
 
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Close-up of freshly laid eggs - 1 Close-up of developing embryos - 2 Close-up of developing embryos - 3
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Larvae
Close-up of developing embryos,
ready to hatch - 4
Developing embryo, ready to hatch. The eggs of A. gracile often support the growth of algae inside the inner jelly layer. Recent hatchling, one day old,
approx. 1.5 cm in length.
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Close-up of developing embryos, Humboldt County © Spencer Riffle
Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs  
Close-up of well-developed embryos © Spencer Riffle  
     
Hatchlings and Larvae in Water
Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae
  Hatchling, 2 weeks old  
Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae
Larva, 2 months old Larva, 5 months old
Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae
Larva, 5 months old Transforming larva with reduced gills,
8.5 months old
Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae
Transforming larva with even more reduced gills, 8.5 months old, 3 days later.

Transformed larva, with no gills and large paratoid gland behind the eye, still living in water, 8.5 months old Transformed larva, in water, with no gills, shedding skin, 8.5 months old
Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae Northwestern Salamander Larvae
Mature larvae from a lake at 1600 ft. Del Norte County © Alan Barron Yellow larva, Del Norte County © Alan Barron. Yellow larvae constituted about 5 percent of all the larvae found in one particular location. The others were dark.

Northwestern Salamander Larvae  
Larva in water of unknown age about 11 cm in total length (4.3 inches) found in a pond in southern Humboldt County © Ross Taylor and Associates  
     
Recently-Transformed Juveniles Out of Water
Northwestern Salamander Northwestern Salamander Northwestern Salamander
Recently-transformed juvenile, 10.5 months after hatching.
Northwestern Salamander Northwestern Salamander  
Recently-transformed juvenile, 10.5 months after hatching.  
     
Breeding Ponds
Northwestern Salamander Habitat Northwestern Salamander Habitat Northwestern Salamander habitat
Habitat, breeding pond,
Del Norte County
Breeding pond, Pacific
County, Washington
Breeding pond,
Pacific County, Washington
Northwestern Salamander habitat Northwestern Salamander Eggs Northwestern Salamander Eggs
Breeding pond,
Pacific County, Washington.
Egg masses attached to grass in the pond shown to the right. Breeding pond,
King County, Washington
Northern Red-legged Frog Habitat Northern Red-legged Frog Habitat  
Breeding habitat in early March, Humboldt County  
     
Short Video
  Northwestern Salamander Larvae  
  A look at a breeding pond during the February breeding season, including several egg masses, and a paedomorph in the water at night.  
 
Back to Ambystoma gracile, Page 1
 

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