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Thursday, 28 April 2011

Olm

  The olm is a blind amphibian living in the subterranean waters of caves in parts of Europe including Albania, Serbia and several others. This European creature is sometimes called the "Human Fish" because of its skin color. Other nicknames are cave salamander and white salamander.
  This little guy is most well-known for its adaptations to a life without light. The eyes of the olm are undeveloped, while it's other senses such as smell and hearing are very acute. It lacks any pigmentation in its skin, and lives a completely aquatic life. It also exhibits neoteny, meaning it retains larval characteristics like external gills, much like the axolotl or mud puppy.
  Generally, the olm is 20-30 centimeters long, or 8-12 inches. The olm swims by the twisting of its eel-like body, aided only slightly by its poorly developed legs. It is a predatory animal and feeds on small crabs, snails, and occasionally insects.
 When food is scarce, the olm is capable of reducing its activity and metabolic rate, and can even reabsorb its own tissues if necessary. Controlled experiments have proven that an olm can survive up to ten years without food, another adaptation to life in a cave.
  Lifespan is an estimated 58 years.

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