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"Among the lelts, too, were, here and there, tiny salamanders, they, too, white and blind. Like the lelts, they were, for their size, long-bodied, were capable of long periods of domancy
and posessed a slow metabolism, useful in an environment in which food is not plentiful. Unlike
the lelts, they had long stemlike legs....but these filaments, in the case of the salamanders,
interestingly, are not vibration receptors, but feather gills, an external gill system. This system, common in the developing animal generally, is retained even by the adult salamanders, who are, in this environment, permanently gilled."
Book 10, Tribesmen of Gor, page 248 ~¤~
"The feather gills of the salamanders, it seems, allow them to hunt the same areas as the lelts for the same prey, the vibration effects of these organs being similar, without frightening them away, thus distrubing the water and alerting possible prey. They often hunt the same areas. Although this form of salamnder possesses a lateral-line set of vibrations receptors, like the lelt, it lacks the craneal receptors and its lateral-line receptors do not have the sensitivity of the lelt's." Book 10, Tribesmen of Gor, page 248 ~¤~
"Following the lelt, not disturbing it, often helps the salamender find prey. On the other hand, the salamander, by means of its legs and feet, can dislodge prey inaccessible to the lelt. The length of the stemlike legs of the salamander, incidentally, help it in stalking in the water. It takes little prey while swimming freely. The long legs cause little water vibration. Further, the enable the animal to move efficiently, coverering large areas without considerable metabolic cost. In a blind environment, where food is scarce, energy conservation is essential. The long, narrow legs also lift the salamander's head and body from the floor, enabling it, with its sensors, to scan a greater area for prey. The upright posture in men delivers a similar advantage, visually, in increasing scanning range, this being useful not only in the location of prey, but also, of course, in the recognition of dangers while remote, hopefully while yet avoidable." Book 10, Tribesmen of Gor, page 248 ~¤~
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