Olms are water salamanders found in European caves, especially Slovenia and Croatia. They can survive for decades and adapt to dark settings.
Mexican and southern US caves include blind cave fish, also known as blind tetra. Due to dark adaption, these fish are blind.
Camel crickets, sometimes known as spider crickets, live in caves worldwide. Long antennae and muscular hind legs help them navigate in darkness.
The little, colorless cave shrimp live in underground water systems. Often blind, they live in caves worldwide.
The Tennessee cave salamander (Gyrinophilus palleucus) is one of many cave-adapted salamanders. Lower pigmentation is common in these salamanders.
Cave beetles are found worldwide. Some of these beetles have extended appendages for small areas and are adapted to darkness.
Cave spiders have extended legs and specialized sensing organs. They detect vibrations in the dark.
Cave leeches thrive in dark underground waters. Cave-dwelling fauna host blood-feeding parasites.
Caves house several bat species that roost and hibernate. Insect management by these bats is vital to cave ecosystems.
Blind snakes like the Texas blind snake (Leptotyphlops dulcis) live underground. Caves and other dark habitats are home to certain blind creatures.