Supporting data for "Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3D by X-ray imaging"
Dataset type: Imaging
Data released on February 14, 2022
Tesarova M; Mancini L; Mauri E; Aljančič G; Năpăruş-Aljančič M; Kostanjšek R; Mali LB; Zikmund T; Kaucka M; Papi F; Goyens J; Bouchnita A; Hellander A; Adameyko I; Kaiser J (2022): Supporting data for "Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3D by X-ray imaging" GigaScience Database. http://dx.doi.org/10.5524/102196
The 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 perpetual darkness, narrow temperature and humidity ranges, and nutrient scarcity of subterranean environment. In this study, we focused on adaptations of skull shape and sensory systems in 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 the loss of sight by enhanced non-visual sensory systems including mechanoreceptors, electroreceptors and chemoreceptors. We compared developmental stages of Proteus anguinus with Ambystoma mexicanum, also known as axolotl, to make an exemplary comparison between cave-and surface-dwelling paedomorphic salamanders.
We used contrast-enhanced X-ray computed microtomography for the 3D segmentation of the soft tissues in the head of Proteus anguinus and axolotl. Sensory organs were visualised to understand how the animal is adapted to living in complete darkness. X-ray microCT datasets were provided along with with 3D models for larval, juvenile and adult specimens, showing the cartilage of the chondrocranium, the position, shape and size of the brain, eyes and olfactory epithelium.
Proteus anguinus still keeps some of its secrets to itself. Our high-resolution X-ray microCT scans together with 3D models of the anatomical structures in the head may help us to understand the nature and origin of the mechanisms behind its adaptations to the subterranean environment, which led to a series of troglomorphies.
Keywords:
- proteus anguinus
- ambystoma mexicanum
- olm
- axolotl
- x-ray microct
- microtomography
- salamander
- cave animal
- subterranean adaptations
Additional details
Read the peer-reviewed publication(s):
(PubMed: 35380661)
Additional information:
| Sample ID | Taxonomic ID | Common Name | Genbank Name | Scientific Name | Sample Attributes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambystoma_mexicanum_adult | 8296 | axolotl | axolotl | Ambystoma mexicanum | Description:MicroCT image data (volumetric DICOM s... Geographic location (country and/or sea,region):It... Geographic location (latitude):45.64348 ... + |
| Ambystoma_mexicanum_larvae | 8296 | axolotl | axolotl | Ambystoma mexicanum | Description:MicroCT image data (volumetric DICOM s... Geographic location (country and/or sea,region):It... Geographic location (latitude):45.64348 ... + |
| Proteus_anguinus_adult | 221568 | blind cave salamander | olm | Proteus anguinus | Description:MicroCT image data (volumetric DICOM s... Geographic location (country and/or sea,region):Sl... Geographic location (latitude):45.82137 ... + |
| Proteus_anguinus_juvenile | 221568 | blind cave salamander | olm | Proteus anguinus | Description:MicroCT image data (volumetric DICOM s... Geographic location (country and/or sea,region):Cr... Geographic location (latitude):43.02 ... + |
| Proteus_anguinus_larvae | 221568 | blind cave salamander | olm | Proteus anguinus | Description:MicroCT image data (volumetric DICOM s... Geographic location (country and/or sea,region):Sl... Geographic location (latitude):45.82137 ... + |
Facebook 
Google 
Twitter 
LinkedIn