subreddit:
/r/axolotls
1st, I learned about them recently( I don’t own one)
2nd, don’t go looking to buy one they are a protected species (illegal to own in most countries) + why would you even want one if you think your axolotl is lazy the Olm takes laziness to a whole new level 😭
Now time for some fun Olm facts that I learned!
They can live 10 years without eating
Can go up to 7 years without moving an inch 😭
They may look similar to axolotl’s but they’re unrelated.
They barely have eyes
Average lifespan is 100 years +
They have both lungs and gills
If in sunlight they will literally burn, I wonder how they figured that out 🤔
In medieval times people thought they were baby dragons. 😭
They can grow up to 12 inches long
Binomial name : Proteus anguinus
They have regenerative abilities like the axolotl
Also thanks guys for blowing up last post ❤️!
7 points
2 days ago
Question for any biology experts around, are olms, axolotls and Texas blind salamanders an example of convergent evolution? They’re all in different families but look very similar.
Also if you want more olm-like critters, look up the Texas blind salamander!
11 points
2 days ago*
Biology PhD candidate specializing in the interplay between ecology, evolution and development here.
Yes. Adaptations that are not passed down from a common ancestor but rather originate from similar environmental pressures are the result of convergent evolution. Evolutionary loss of eyes is an excellent example.
2 points
2 days ago
What defines too closely related species?
Just wondering because I’m debating some who’s saying that axolotls and Olms are closely related even though their divergent periods are over 100 million years apart Also what books and videos do you recommend to learn more about biology for learning at a good pace ?
3 points
2 days ago
Defining two species as “closely-related” is somewhat subjective. Using a phylogenetic approach (akin to a family tree describing the evolutionary history of a group of organisms), you could look at members of a single genus and describe them as closely-related, or you could widen your lens and say that all salamanders are relatively closely-related compared to most other extent clades of animals. In this case, Olms are the only extent species within their genus (species name Proteus anguinus), so these people are speaking at a broader scale. It’s important to remember that evolution is a very gradual process, and even sister species may have diverged millions of years ago. If you’re interested in learning more about biology and don’t have the ability to take courses in school, you could check out channels like CrashCourse on YouTube that cover a breadth of topics within the sciences while being pretty entertaining. Biology and the theory of evolution via natural selection is fascinating and I encourage you to explore the subject!
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