The hatchlings of amphibians commonly spend their larval stage in water, breathing through gills. Eventually, they shed their gills and leave the water to live on land, though most need to stay close to a body of water to reproduce. The mudpuppy never sheds its gills and spends its life in water. Some scientists believe this characteristic, called neoteny, developed because somewhere in its evolution the thyroid hormones and receptors of the mudpuppy and other neotenic salamanders stopped working together the way they should. This left the animal in a state of perpetual youth.
Besides having a weird thyroid system, the mudpuppy, unlike most salamanders, doesn’t have a parathyroid gland to help regulate calcium. Scientists don’t quite know the reason for this either.
Mudpuppies are nocturnal, though they might be active during the day if they live in murky water.
Mudpuppies can swim, but they usually walk along the bed of the body of water.
Their skin has sense organs that help them get around. Their eyes are only good enough to distinguish light from dark.
Mudpuppies don’t hibernate but can stay alive beneath frozen lakes. They will die if they’re simply tossed on the ice, however.
They have three rows of tiny, conical teeth, but they’re only used to hold on to their prey.
Besides having a weird thyroid system, the mudpuppy, unlike most salamanders, doesn’t have a parathyroid gland to help regulate calcium. Scientists don’t quite know the reason for this either.
Mudpuppies are nocturnal, though they might be active during the day if they live in murky water.
Mudpuppies can swim, but they usually walk along the bed of the body of water.
Their skin has sense organs that help them get around. Their eyes are only good enough to distinguish light from dark.
Mudpuppies don’t hibernate but can stay alive beneath frozen lakes. They will die if they’re simply tossed on the ice, however.
They have three rows of tiny, conical teeth, but they’re only used to hold on to their prey.
- Catégories
- AMPHIBIANS
- Mots-clés
- mudpuppy, mudpuppy kids, mudpuppy map
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