From cave dragons to genomics : advancements in the study of subterranean tetrapods

Recknagel, Hans (author), Trontelj, Peter (author)

Throughout most of the kingdom Animalia, evolutionary transitions from surface life to a life permanently bound to caves and other subterranean habitats have occurred innumerous times. Not so in tetrapods, where a mere 14 cave-obligate species—all plethodontid and proteid salamanders—are known. We discuss why cave tetrapods are so exceptional and why only salamanders have made the transition. Their evolution follows predictable and convergent, albeit independent pathways. Among the many known changes associated with transitions to subterranean life, eye degeneration, starvation resistance, and longevity are especially relevant to human biomedical research. Recently, sequences of salamander genomes have become available opening up genomic research for cave tetrapods. We discuss new genomic methods that can spur our understanding of the evolutionary mechanisms behind convergent phenotypic change, the relative roles of selective and neutral evolution, cryptic species diversity, and data relevant for conservation such as effective population size and demography.

• Language: English
• Keywords: cave adaptation, troglomorphism, salamanders, selection, biomedicine
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2022
• Number of pages: Str. 254–266
• Numbering: Vol. 72, no. 3
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-141919
• UDC: 597.94
• ISSN on article: 0006-3568
• DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biab117
• COBISS.SI-ID: 88995075
• Publication date in RUL: 11.10.2022

RECKNAGEL, Hans and TRONTELJ, Peter, 2022, From cave dragons to genomics : advancements in the study of subterranean tetrapods. Bioscience [online]. 2022. Vol. 72, no. 3. [Accessed 23 April 2025]. DOI 10.1093/biosci/biab117. Retrieved from: https://repozitorij.uni-lj.si/IzpisGradiva.php?lang=eng&id=141919

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Bioscience
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, American Institut of Biology Sciences
• ISSN: 0006-3568
• COBISS.SI-ID: 331599

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: prilagoditve na jame, troglomorfizem, repate dvoživke, naravna selekcija, biomedicina