Publication detail

Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3 dimensions by X-ray imaging

TESAŘOVÁ, M. MANCINI, L. MAURI, E. ALJANČIČ, G. NĂPĂRUŞ-ALJANČIČ, M. KOSTANJŠEK, R. BIZJAK MALI, L. ZIKMUND, T. KAUCKÁ, M. PAPI, F. GOYENS, J. BOUCHNITA, A. HELLANDER, A. ADAMEYKO, I. KAISER, J.

Original Title

Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3 dimensions by X-ray imaging

Type

journal article in Web of Science

Language

English

Original Abstract

Background: Lightless caves can harbour a wide range of living organisms. Cave animals have evolved a set of morphological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations known as troglomorphisms, enabling their survival in the perpetual darkness, narrow temperature and humidity ranges, and nutrient scarcity of the subterranean environment. In this study, we focused on adaptations of skull shape and sensory systems in the blind cave salamander, Proteus anguinus, also known as olm or simply proteus—the largest cave tetrapod and the only European amphibian living exclusively in subterranean environments. This extraordinary amphibian compensates for the loss of sight by enhanced non-visual sensory systems including mechanoreceptors, electroreceptors, and chemoreceptors. We compared developmental stages of P. anguinus with Ambystoma mexicanum, also known as axolotl, to make an exemplary comparison between cave- and surface-dwelling paedomorphic salamanders. Findings: We used contrast-enhanced X-ray computed microtomography for the 3D segmentation of the soft tissues in the head of P. anguinus and A. mexicanum. Sensory organs were visualized to elucidate how the animal is adapted to living in complete darkness. X-ray microCT datasets were provided along with 3D models for larval, juvenile, and adult specimens, showing the cartilage of the chondrocranium and the position, shape, and size of the brain, eyes, and olfactory epithelium. Conclusions: P. anguinus still keeps some of its secrets. Our high-resolution X-ray microCT scans together with 3D models of the anatomical structures in the head may help to elucidate the nature and origin of the mechanisms behind its adaptations to the subterranean environment, which led to a series of troglomorphisms.

Keywords

Proteus anguinus, Ambystoma mexicanum, olm, axolotl, X-ray microCT, microtomography, salamander, cave animal, subterranean adaptations

Authors

TESAŘOVÁ, M.; MANCINI, L.; MAURI, E.; ALJANČIČ, G.; NĂPĂRUŞ-ALJANČIČ, M.; KOSTANJŠEK, R.; BIZJAK MALI, L.; ZIKMUND, T.; KAUCKÁ, M.; PAPI, F.; GOYENS, J.; BOUCHNITA, A.; HELLANDER, A.; ADAMEYKO, I.; KAISER, J.

Released

5. 4. 2022

Publisher

Oxford University Press GigaScience

ISBN

2047-217X

Periodical

GigaScience

Year of study

11

Number

5

State

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Pages from

1

Pages to

8

Pages count

8

URL

https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/article/doi/10.1093/gigascience/giac030/6562166

Full text in the Digital Library

http://hdl.handle.net/11012/204187

BibTex

@article{BUT177745,
  author="Markéta {Kaiser} and Lucia {Mancini} and Edgardo {Mauri} and Gregor {Aljančič} and Magdalena {Năpăruş-Aljančič} and Rok {Kostanjšek} and Lilijana {Bizjak Mali} and Tomáš {Zikmund} and Markéta {Kaucká} and Federica {Papi} and Jana {Goyens} and Anass {Bouchnita} and Andreas {Hellander} and Igor {Adameyko} and Jozef {Kaiser}",
  title="Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3 dimensions by X-ray imaging",
  journal="GigaScience",
  year="2022",
  volume="11",
  number="5",
  pages="1--8",
  doi="10.1093/gigascience/giac030",
  issn="2047-217X",
  url="https://academic.oup.com/gigascience/article/doi/10.1093/gigascience/giac030/6562166"
}