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Numerous animals live in caves, either exclusively or part of the time. Troglobites - not to be confused with troglodytes - are animals thatlive their entire lives in the dark part of caves, troglophiles are animals that sometimes occur outside a cave, but mostly deep in it, and trogloxenes are animals that are capable of surviving inside caves but are mostly found outside of it, like the extinct cave bears. Stygobites areanimals found in groundwater in or between caves. True troglobites lack functional eyes. Their eyes may be vestigal, covered beneath a layer of skin. Exclusive cave animals are called caverniculous.
Some animals that live in caves include salamanders, the Cave Dwelling Rat Snake, many fish, bats, and many arthropods, including insects, millipedes, harvestmen, crayfish, springtails, Spiders, etc. Smaller fauna are numerous, as their energy needs are less than large animals, and include cave-exclusive annelids, leeches, mollusks, mites, etc. Many troglobites have slow metabolisms to account for the scarcity of food in caves.
Animals that spend a lot of time in caves eventually evolve exclusive adaptations to survive the extreme environment, such as better hearing at the expense of sight, or the ability to sense delicate vibrations. Many animals that live in caves lose their pigment, becoming ghostly white, as the signaling role of pigmentation in useless in a pitch black environment. Lack of functioning eyes is also accompanied by the extension of limbs and antennae in insects, which are used to survey the environment through tactile means. True cave insects also have either reduced or absent wings.
The cave environment is distinguished by negative characteristics: a lack of distinction between night or day, summer or winter. There is little change in temperature or humidity, though cool air currents do flow through most caves. Food can only come in through the outside, either living, in the form of animals seeking refuge, or dead, by organic material carried in through streams. Fungi feeds on this organic matter, and numerous animals in turn feed on the fungi. Butterflies that hibernate in caves are frequently eaten by grasshoppers, which are in turn eaten by bats.
What else can I help you with?
Do Cheetahs live in caves?
They might shelter in cave entrances - if there are any caves in cheetah country, of course! They are not cave-dwelling animals as such.
What animals do caves have?
Animals which live in caves for all or much of their lives include blind fish, a type of arachnid called a harvestman, and crickets. Animals which live in caves seasonally or temporarily, or which shelter in caves include bats, snakes, lizards, bears, mice, rats, and humans.
What animals live in caves in antarctica?
There are no caves in Antarctica -- only crevasses formed by ice tongues at the water's edge. No animals live on the continent: it's too cold and there is no food chain.
Do caves only have nocturnal animals?
No, there can be nocturnal animals that live in other places too.
Why do animals live in caves?
Animals may live in caves for reasons such as protection from predators, extreme weather conditions, and as a place to hibernate. Caves can provide a safe environment with stable temperatures and limited access points, making them ideal habitats for certain species.
What kind of animals live on a cay?
There are many different animals that live in caves. Bats for example are a famous animal that lives in a cave.
Why do most bears live in caves?
They don't in the sense of being cave-dwelling animals, and most don't live in caves anyway because they are far more widespread than caves. Like all animals bears sometimes need shelter from the elements and possible attackers, somay use any suitable caves they might find; but for the most part they have to make do with whatever shelter the forest offers. Caves are common but only in specific areas, and caves that can be used as dens are by no means as common as bears!
What are animals called that live their whole life in caves?
Animals that: Live entirely underground - Troglobites. Use caves at least partly - Troglophiles (e.g. bats) are in caves by accident - Trogloxenes (they don't thrive, and indeed may soon die.)( Aquatic animals found in caves' streams and pools may be described as above, but with the suffix "troglo" replaced to be more specific by "Stygo".
What kinds of animals live in caves?
cave angelfish, crabs, bats, etc.
Does animals live in Jupiter?
Turtles and Dragons live in the deepest Caves of Jupiter :) <--- this has been proven by scientist.....
Do any decomposers live in caves?
Yes, decomposers are needed in all ecosystems including caves.
What animals live in Sea Caves?
Animals that live in sea caves include sea urchins, sea anemones, fish species like blennies and gobies, and lobsters. These animals are adapted to the dark, sheltered environment of sea caves, where they can find protection from predators and access to food sources.
