Press release: Proteus, visualizing a sightless world: 3D Imaging of the Proteus reveals adaptation for life in the dark


Proteus

Fig. Proteus 3D model, from article on GigaScience


A showcase of evolutionary-designed sensory organs is revealed through high-resolution images of the head of the exclusively cave-dwelling blind salamander, Proteus anguinus. The proteus is an evolutionary masterpiece of an unusual set of adaptions for surviving living in lightless caves. Even its physical appearance is unique, so much so that locals in the 1600s believed it was a baby dragon. The research here, carried out by an international collaboration led by Czech scientists Jozef Kaiser and Markéta Tesařová, was aimed at gaining detailed information about these unusual evolutionary changes. The scientists used X-ray computed microtomography (microCT) scans to produce stunning 3D reconstructions of the soft tissue in the head of the proteus, allowing them to directly view the extensive changes that have occurred in the salamander over time.
The research has been published in the journal GigaScience.
(DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac030)

 

Press Review

Phys.org dd. 05/04/20223D imaging of mysterious cave-dwelling salamander reveals adaptations for life in the dark
GigaScience dd.05/04/2022: Living in darkness: Exploring adaptation of Proteus anguinus in 3 dimensions by X-ray imaging
flashnews11 dd. 05/04/2022: Brain Scans Illuminate Weirdness of Cave Salamander That Lost Its Eyes
EurekAlert! dd. 05/04/2022: Visualizing a sightless world
hitechglitz dd. 05/04/2022: Le scansioni cerebrali fanno luce sulla stranezza di una salamandra delle caverne che ha perso gli occhi
gizmodo dd. 05/04/2022: Brain Scans Illuminate Weirdness of Cave Salamander That Lost Its Eyes
newsvex dd. 05/04/2022: Brain Scans Illuminate Weirdness of Cave Salamander That Lost Its Eyes
hitechglitz  dd. 05/04/2022: Сканирането на мозъка хвърля светлина върху странността на пещерен саламандър, който е загубил очите си
diario.live dd. 05/04/2022Revelan la aberración de la salamandra que perdió los fanales
Tecno Fans dd. 05/04/2022: Revelan la rareza de la salamandra que perdió los ojos
hitechglitz  dd. 05/04/2022Les scanners cérébraux mettent en lumière l’étrangeté d’une salamandre des cavernes qui a perdu ses yeux
nationalgeographic dd. 07/04/2022: El extraño olm y sus adaptaciones a una vida en la sombra
rivistanatura mensile dd. 01/09/2022: Chi è il Proteo e perché la Pinna nobile rischia l’estinzione?

 








 




 

 
Last Updated on Tuesday, 20 June 2023 16:08