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Proteus
Anginus (cclovesska
ribica)
The
Mysterious Inhabitant of the Dark Aquatic Underworld of the Postojna
Caves
Proteus or
human fish, a tailed amphibian the colour of human skin and unique
to the Slovenian and Dinaric Karst, was discovered in the famous
Postojna Cave system as the greatest rarity among 190 varieties
of animal life. It has gradually become the symbol for the Slovenian
subterranean world. The discovery and study of a creature that
was initially thought to be a small dragon, gave rise to spelaeobiology,
the study of living cave fauna and flora, which had its start
in Postojna.
The amphibian
is 30 centimeter long, the colour of human skin and reproduces
its young with eggs and also as living young. Proteus has adapted
to underground life by using only an exceptionally small amount
of oxygen. It has atrophied eyes and lungs and breathes through
gills like fish.
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