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Olm
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{{Short description|Species of amphibian}} {{Other uses}}{{Speciesbox | name = Olm | image = Proteus anguinus Postojnska Jama Slovenija.jpg | image_caption = Olms in [[Postojna Cave]], Slovenia | status = VU | status_system = IUCN3.1 | status_ref = <ref name="IUCN">{{Cite iucn|author=IUCN SSC Amphibian Specialist Group |year= 2022 |title= ''Proteus anguinus'' |page= e.T18377A89698593 |doi=10.2305/IUCN.UK.2022-2.RLTS.T18377A89698593.en |access-date=6 August 2023}}</ref> | genus = Proteus | parent_authority = [[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768 | species = anguinus | authority = [[Josephus Nicolaus Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768 | subdivision_ranks = Subspecies | subdivision = {{species list |Proteus anguinus anguinus|[[Joseph Nicolai Laurenti|Laurenti]], 1768 |Proteus anguinus parkelj|[[Boris Sket|Sket]] & Arntzen, 1994 (See text)}} | range_map = Proteus anguinus distribution.png | range_map_caption = Native range (pictured: northeastern coast of [[Adriatic Sea]]).{{efn|Assuming contiguous inhabitance. According to newer assessments, the range is fragmented to smaller areas within the marked area.<ref name="IUCN"/>}} }} The '''olm''' ({{IPA|de|Ιlm|lang|De-Olm.ogg}}) or '''proteus''' ('''''Proteus anguinus''''') is an aquatic [[salamander]] which is the only [[species]] in the genus '''''Proteus''''' of the family [[Proteidae]]<ref name="AOTW">{{cite web |url= https://amphibiansoftheworld.amnh.org/Amphibia/Caudata/Proteidae/Proteus |title=''Proteus'' Laurenti, 1768 |last= Frost |first= Darrel R. |date=2023 |orig-date= 1998 |website= Amphibian Species of the World |publisher=[[American Museum of Natural History]] |access-date= 19 March 2023}}</ref> and the only [[Troglobite|exclusively cave-dwelling]] [[chordate]] species found in Europe; the family's other extant genus is ''[[Necturus]]''. In contrast to most [[amphibian]]s, it is entirely [[aquatic animal|aquatic]], eating, sleeping, and breeding underwater. Living in caves found in the [[Dinaric Alps]], it is [[endemic]] to the waters that flow underground through the extensive limestone bedrock of the [[karst]] of [[Central Europe|Central]] and [[Southeastern Europe]] in the basin of the [[SoΔa]] River ({{langx|it|Isonzo}}) near [[Trieste]], [[Italy]], southern [[Slovenia]], southwestern [[Croatia]], and [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]].<ref name="Sket1997">{{Cite journal |last=Sket |first=Boris |date=1997 |title=Distribution of ''Proteus'' (Amphibia: Urodela: Proteidae) and its possible explanation |journal=Journal of Biogeography |volume=24 |issue=3 |pages=263β280 |doi=10.1046/j.1365-2699.1997.00103.x|bibcode=1997JBiog..24..263S |s2cid=84308933 }}</ref> [[Introduced species|Introduced]] populations are found near [[Vicenza]], Italy, and [[Kranj]], [[Slovenia]].<ref name="AW">{{Cite web |url=http://www.amphibiaweb.org/cgi-bin/amphib_query?where-genus=Proteus&where-species=anguinus |title=Proteus anguinus |last1=Bulog |first1=Boris |last2=van der Meijden |first2=Arie |date=26 December 1999 |website=AmphibiaWeb |access-date=27 January 2014}}</ref> It was first mentioned in 1689 by the local [[naturalist]] [[Johann Weikhard von Valvasor|Valvasor]] in his ''[[The Glory of the Duchy of Carniola|Glory of the Duchy of Carniola]]'', who reported that, after heavy rains, the olms were washed up from the underground waters and were believed by local people to be a cave [[dragon]]'s offspring. This [[cave salamander]] is most notable for its adaptations to a life of complete darkness in its underground habitat. The olm's [[eye]]s are [[Vestigiality|undeveloped]], leaving it blind, while its other [[sense]]s, particularly those of [[olfaction|smell]] and [[hearing (sense)|hearing]], are acutely developed. Most populations also lack any [[biological pigment|pigmentation]] in their [[skin]]. The olm has three toes on its forelimbs, but only two toes on its hind feet. It exhibits [[neoteny]], retaining [[larva]]l characteristics like external [[gill]]s into adulthood,<ref name="animal">{{Cite book |title=Animal |date=2001 |publisher=DK |isbn=0-7894-7764-5 |editor-last=Burnie D. |location=London |pages=61, 435 |editor-last2=Wilson D.E.}}</ref> like some American amphibians, the [[axolotl]] and the mudpuppies (''Necturus'').
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