Proteus anguinus; Print; The olm or proteus (Proteus anguinus) is an aquatic salamander in the family Proteidae; the only exclusively cave-dwelling chordate species found in Europe. In contrast to most amphibians; it is entirely aquatic; it eats; sleeps; and breeds 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 and Southeastern Europe; specifically southern Slovenia; the basin of the Soca River (Italian: Isonzo) near Trieste; Italy; southwestern Croatia; and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Introduced populations are found near Vicenza; Italy; and Kranj; Slovenia.; 1700-1880