AMPULLARY ORGANS, PIT ORGANS, AND NEUROMASTS OF THE CHINESE GIANT SALAMANDER, ANDRIAS-DAVIDIANUS

The lateral-line sense organs in the skin of larval, juvenile and adul t salamanders (Andrias davidianus) were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. In addition to mechanoreceptive neuromasts, ther e are electroreceptive ampullary organs. Anatomically, the latter are similar to the ampullary organs of some other urodeles. In the giant s alamander they occur only in larvae and disappear after metamorphosis. Neuromasts are arranged in lines and in different orientations that a pparently maximize directionality. (C) 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.