Specific Growth Rate and the Level of Energy Metabolism in the Ontogeny of Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum(Amphibia: Ambystomatidae)

Concordant changes in the level of energy metabolism and specific growth rate of axolotls have been revealed. Several periods of ontogeny are distinguished, which differ in the ratio of energy metabolism to body weight and, therefore, are described by different allometric equations. It is suggested that the specific growth rate of an animal determines the type of dependence of energy metabolism on body weight.