Subterranean Species

The unique adaptations to life in caves and groundwater give these animals their bizarre appearances and foster a rich diversity of species. These traits include small population sizes, slow growth and reproduction rates, long lifespan, lack of pigment, degeneration of sight, and enhancement of other sensory organs. These same traits, however, make them vulnerable to any disturbance.

Ozark big-eared bat colony © Harry Harnish

Examples of cave species include:

• Fish and crustaceans such as amphipods, isopods, copepods, crabs, crayfish and shrimp.
• Insects such as beetles, flies and springtails.
• Arachnids such as spiders, mites, scorpions, false scorpions and harvestman.
• Species such as bats, crickets, and woodrats are important to the system because they leave the cave and can bring in food sources for smaller invertebrates.

Learn about cave crayfish

Learn about small-footed myotis

Learn about gray bats and Indiana bats

View a slide show of cave-dwelling animals and ground-water limited fauna.