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Can newt larvae move their gills? |
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Adderz
Member Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Posted: 12 Jan 2012 at 7:35pm |
Hi All,
Just wondered if anyone on here can answer this simple question that has me puzzling! Can newt larvae (GCN or small Sp.) move their gills? i.e. Are they controlled by muscles. I have checked in a few books and can find no mention of it! Cheers Rob
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I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left....
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will
Senior Member Joined: 27 Feb 2007 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1830 |
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Hi Rob
I've seen well grown crested newt larvae trying to flush oxygenated water across the gills by moving them back and forth in overcrowded desiccating ponds, so I guess they can. Interesting Q! Cheers Will |
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Noodles
Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534 |
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Indeed they do. The gill stems from which the breather filaments protrude largely comprise muscle tissue. As Will points out this aids oxygen intake by actively flushing or passively increasing/exposing surface area. It also presumably helps protect against predator, or other physical, damage.
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Adderz
Member Joined: 01 Mar 2011 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 17 |
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Thanks for the responses! It is just one of those questions that popped into my head and I thought I should know the answer, but didn't!
Cheers Rob
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I started out with nothing and I've still got most of it left....
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Noodles
Senior Member Joined: 05 Dec 2010 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 534 |
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I noticed a tank off Axolotls flexing their gill pistons at the yokel Dobbies garden centre t'other day. The stems appeared to be quite mobile and on occasion seemed to move independent of one another. I'm sure the same might apply to newt larvae.
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