THE ARTIFICIAL TRANSFORMATION OF THE ALPINE SALAMANDER

Abstract

THE success of Madame von Chauvin in producing the development of Amblystoma from the Mexican axolotl by gradually accustoming it to live in air, induced her to attempt a very interesting interference with the life-history of the black or Alpine salamander, Salamandra atra. This is an ovoviviparous species, and although its young possess large gills while within the body of the mother, they are born to commence a land life immediately; while other species of salamander, especially the spotted one, S. maculata, found in adjacent districts to the subject of inquiry, bring forth their young with gills, and they pass a considerable period in water before taking to land. The problem which it was desired to solve was, whether the young of the black salamander, taken from the mother before the normal time of birth, and placed in water under favourable conditions, could become adapted to an aquatic life. It is interesting to note that while only two eggs out of many come to full development in the black salamander, forty or fifty develop in the spotted one; yet individuals of the two species are about equally numerous in their respective localities. This shows the value of the avoidance of life in water with its attendant risks, though probably the diminution of terrestrial enemies in the more elevated localities frequented by the black salamander is a considerable influence in its favour.