Comparative morphological analysis during larval development of three syntopic newt species (Urodela: Salamandridae)

Abstract

We provide comparative and updated staging tables for the larvae of three syntopic newt species – Triturus carnifex, Lissotriton italicus and Ichthyosaura alpestris inexpectatus –living in Calabria. A detailed description, stage by stage, of the full larval period until completion of metamorphosis is furnished, accompanied by photographic tables of the most important stages. The appearance of the most prominent and easily identifiable morphological features (i.e. development of gills, balancers and limbs; and body pigmentation), and length, have been used as staging criteria. Ontogenic development in the three considered species is compared with that of other Caudata species. For the three newt species, we also performed a comparative analysis of the developmental larval phases, emphasising the shared and species-specific features. The present descriptive study adds comparative information on distinctive morphological traits that may be useful for the recognition of newts during larval ontogeny and, in some cases, when sampling in the field.

Keywords

• Urodela
• newt
• larvae
• normal development
• staging tables