Cave Dwellers

Cave Dwellers There are many creatures that live in caves. These animal categories are Troglobites, Troglophiles, and Troglexens. These cave creatures are called cave dwellers.

Troglobite means cave dweller. They are called cave dwellers because they are permanent residents of caves. Most of the troglobites are albinos, which means that their skin is underdeveloped. The skin is not required to be protected against ultraviolet radiation when the creature lives in a cave. “Troglobites … are made to navigate, mate, and kill amid perpetual darkness, desperate starvation, poison gases, and endless labyrinths of stone”. Troglexenes are but not limited to Cliff swallows and cave swallows. According to ans.latech.edu “Some birds may be included in this catagory. They build their nest of mud along the rocky ledges of the cliff. Troglexens are also pack rats. Pack rats have homes that are mounds of sticks and bark. Inside the cave which is their home, they chew on animal bones. And other bits of food. “They mark their trails when leaving in order to memorize the route back. Bars just might be the most commonly known Troglexene or cave guest. Most caves are filled with thousands of these cave guests. Bats use the caves during the winter to take care of their babies. “The Mexican free-tailed bats may go up to an altitude of 3,000 meters and travel hundreds of miles to feed on insects.” Bears, raccoons, and human cavers are some other cave guests. A Troglophile is a cave lover. According to http://ans.latech.edu/homes/wakeman/caves/cavelife.html, “This group is composed of the creatures that live in the cave but may explore the outside areas to find extra food.” Salamanders

are in this branch of cave dwellers. Salamanders are also related to frogs and toads. According to http://ans.latech.edu/homes/wakeman/caves/cavelife.html, “Certain salamanders live near the cave entrance. They see will and have colored skin.” The reason that they like the cave is because it is moist and dark. One species of Salamander is the “Eurycea longicauda”, which is really common in the Kentucky caves. Another Troglophile is the isopod. The isopod has many legs that look alike. Also in the troglophiles are the Amphipods. Amphipods have many legs that are of different shape. Isopods and amphipods both eat bits of leaves, moss, dead worms and other small animals that drift in the cave streams. In conclusion, cave dwellers are very interesting animals.