Reproduction
Object numberRCSHC/917
Scientific nameCryptobranchus alleganiensis
CollectionHunterian
CategoryWet preparations
Object nameHeart, Pericardium, Trachea, Circulating System, Mounted wet tissue
DescriptionThe heart, pericardium and trachea of a hellbender salamander.
This specimen, together with those from the amphiuma and the siren, were used by John Hunter to demonstrate his idea that animals might be classed according to the structure of their hearts. Although Hunter was generally sceptical of the idea of classification based on single features, he argued that such schemes were useful in placing newly described species in progressive series, starting with the most simple and ascending to the most complex. Hunter noted that the siren represented a transitional form between the fish - which have two cavities in the heart - and amphibians (which have three cavities).
Hunter first acquired specimens of the siren, hellbender and amphiuma when he purchased the collection of a Mr Lake, who had lived in South Carolina for several years. Hunter purchased Lake's entire collection in about 1758. It is not known whether this specimen was one of those purchased in 1758 or was added subsequently. In his original notes Hunter describes this species under the title 'chuah chisstannah', which is a transcription of the Cherokee name: on associated drawings, Hunter also used the name 'Kattewagoe' (see related record).
Production date Estimated 1760 - Estimated 1793
Preparator
Owner/user
presented
Related objectsRCSSC/HDB/3/2/914A/2
Physical Location
LocationOn display in the Hunterian Museum, Room 4: The Long Gallery
Physical Information
Physical descriptionWet preparation of tissue mounted in a circular glass jar with a glass lid.
Materialglass (material)
Menopoma alleghaniensis
Dimensions
whole height: 84 mm
whole diameter: 45 mm
whole weight: 182 g
whole diameter: 45 mm
whole weight: 182 g
Bibliography
Transcript917: The heart, pericardium, and trachea of a Menopoma. The ventricle is laid open to show the loose fasciculate character of its muscular walls. The conus arteriosus is also cut open to expose in its interior two transverse rows of semilunar valves, three in each row, and the origin from the truncus of the arterial arches. The preparation is suspended by the pericardium, behind which is the flattened trachea, in which distinct cartilaginous rings cannot be distinguished. Hunter's description of the organs of circulation of Menopoma, based on these two dissections, is to be found in vol. vi of the Works, p. 388.
SourceHunter 1861
386-389
NotesHunter's notes record his observation on the anatomy of the 'Chuah Chisstannah', or 'craw-fish eater' of the Carolinas. Hunter describes how natives caught the animal by intoxicating it with buck-eye root paste. Like the amphiuma and siren Hunter regarded this species as a transitional form between aetween animals such as fish with two-chambered hearts, and amphibians or reptiles with three chambers.
