A troglobite (or, formally, troglobiont) is an animal

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

, or population of a species, strictly bound to underground habitats, such as caves. These are separate from species that mainly live in above-ground habitats but are also able to live underground (eutroglophiles), and species that are only cave visitors (

subtroglophile Trogloxenes or subtroglophiles, also called cave guests, are animal species which periodically live in underground habitats such as caves or at the very entrance, but cannot live exclusively in such habitats. Among many scientists, trogloxenes and ...

s and

trogloxene Trogloxenes or subtroglophiles, also called cave guests, are animal species which periodically live in underground habitats such as caves or at the very entrance, but cannot live exclusively in such habitats. Among many scientists, trogloxenes and ...

s). Land-dwelling troglobites may be referred to as

troglofauna Troglofauna are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglofauna and stygofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna (based on life-history). Both are associated with subterranean environments – troglofa ...

, while aquatic species may be called

stygofauna Stygofauna are any fauna that live in groundwater systems or aquifers, such as caves, fissures and vugs. Stygofauna and troglofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna (based on life-history). Both are associated with subterranean environmen ...

, although for these animals the term ''stygobite'' is preferable. Troglobites typically have

evolution Evolution is the change in the heritable Phenotypic trait, characteristics of biological populations over successive generations. It occurs when evolutionary processes such as natural selection and genetic drift act on genetic variation, re ...

ary

adaptation In biology, adaptation has three related meanings. Firstly, it is the dynamic evolutionary process of natural selection that fits organisms to their environment, enhancing their evolutionary fitness. Secondly, it is a state reached by the p ...

s to cave life. Examples of such adaptations include slow

metabolism Metabolism (, from ''metabolē'', "change") is the set of life-sustaining chemical reactions in organisms. The three main functions of metabolism are: the conversion of the energy in food to energy available to run cellular processes; the co ...

, reduced energy consumption, better food usage efficiency, decrease or loss of eyesight (

anophthalmia Anophthalmia (Greek: ἀνόφθαλμος, "without eye") is the medical term for the absence of one or both eyes. Both the globe and the ocular tissue are missing from the orbit. The absence of the eye will cause a small bony orbit, a constricte ...

), and

depigmentation Depigmentation is the lightening of the skin or loss of pigment. Depigmentation of the skin can be caused by a number of local and systemic conditions. The pigment loss can be partial (injury to the skin) or complete (caused by vitiligo). It can b ...

(absence of

pigment A pigment is a powder used to add or alter color or change visual appearance. Pigments are completely or nearly solubility, insoluble and reactivity (chemistry), chemically unreactive in water or another medium; in contrast, dyes are colored sub ...

in the

integument In biology, an integument is the tissue surrounding an organism's body or an organ within, such as skin, a husk, Exoskeleton, shell, germ or Peel (fruit), rind. Etymology The term is derived from ''integumentum'', which is Latin for "a coverin ...

). Conversely, as opposed to lost or reduced functions, many species have evolved elongated antenna and locomotory appendages, in order to better move around and respond to environmental stimuli. These structures are also full of

chemical A chemical substance is a unique form of matter with constant chemical composition and characteristic properties. Chemical substances may take the form of a single element or chemical compounds. If two or more chemical substances can be combin ...

tactile Tactile may refer to: * Tactile, related to the sense of touch * Haptics (disambiguation) * Tactile (device), a text-to-braille translation device * Tactile paving See also * Tangibility, in law * Somatosensory system The somatosensory s ...

, and

humidity Humidity is the concentration of water vapor present in the air. Water vapor, the gaseous state of water, is generally invisible to the human eye. Humidity indicates the likelihood for precipitation (meteorology), precipitation, dew, or fog t ...

receptors Receptor may refer to: *Sensory receptor, in physiology, any neurite structure that, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse *Receptor (biochemistry), in biochemistry, a protein molecule that receives and responds ...

. Troglobites commonly do not survive well outside

cave Caves or caverns are natural voids under the Earth's Planetary surface, surface. Caves often form by the weathering of rock and often extend deep underground. Exogene caves are smaller openings that extend a relatively short distance undergrou ...

s and therefore cannot travel between separate cave systems. As a result, many troglobiotic species are

endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic location, such as an island, state, nation, country or other defined zone; organisms that are indigenous to a place are not endemic to it if they are also foun ...

to a single cave or system of caves. Not all cave dwelling species are considered to be troglobites. An animal found in an underground environment may be a troglophile (a species living both in subterranean and in

epigean Epigeal, epigean, epigeic and epigeous are biological terms describing an organism's activity above the soil surface. In botany, a seed is described as showing epigeal germination when the cotyledons of the germinating seed expand, throw off the ...

habitats, e.g.

bat Bats are flying mammals of the order Chiroptera (). With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most birds, flying with their very long spread-out ...

s and

cave swallow The cave swallow (''Petrochelidon fulva'') is a medium-sized, squarish-tailed swallow belonging to the same genus as the more familiar and widespread cliff swallow of North America. The cave swallow, also native to the Americas, nests and roost ...

s) or a

(a species only occurring sporadically in a

hypogean Hypogeal, hypogean, hypogeic and hypogeous (; ) are biological terms describing an organism's activity below the soil surface. In botany, a seed is described as showing hypogeal germination when the cotyledons of the germinating seed remain no ...

habitat and unable to establish a subterranean population).

Flatworms

* ''

Hausera hauseri ''Hausera'' is a subterranean genus of Tricladida, planarian from Brazil. It contains only the single species ''Hausera hauseri''. It is the first cave-dwelling member of the suborder Cavernicola (worm), Cavernicola to have been observed in Sou ...

Mollusca

Bivalvia

* ''

Congeria jalzici ''Congeria'' is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Dreissenidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, the Americas. Species: *'' Congeria angustiformis'' *'' Congeria aquitanica'' *'' Congeria balatonica'' *'' Congeria b ...

'' (cave clam) * ''

Congeria kusceri ''Congeria kusceri'' is a species of bivalve belonging to the family Dreissenidae. Per IUCN The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustaina ...

'' * ''

Congeria mualomerovici ''Congeria'' is a genus of bivalves belonging to the family Dreissenidae. The species of this genus are found in Europe, the Americas. Species: *'' Congeria angustiformis'' *'' Congeria aquitanica'' *'' Congeria balatonica'' *'' Congeria b ...

'' * ''

Eupera troglobia ''Eupera troglobia'' is a species of mollusc that lives in caves. The discovery of ''E. troglobia'' makes it the first troglobitic bivalve from the Americas (North America and South America). The holotype collected was named holotype MZSP 155717 ...

Gastropoda

* Foushee Cavesnail (''

Amnicola cora ''Amnicola cora'' is a species of very small freshwater snail which has an operculum, an aquatic prosobranch gastropod mollusc in the family Amnicolidae. This species is endemic to Arkansas in the United States. Its natural habitat I ...

'') * ''

Angustopila psammion ''Angustopila psammion'' is a species of land snail belonging to the subfamily Hypselostomatinae of the family Gastrocoptidae. It was described in 2022.MolluscaBase eds. (2022). MolluscaBase. Angustopila psammion. Accessed through: World Regist ...

'' *

Tumbling Creek cavesnail The Tumbling Creek cavesnail (''Antrobia culveri'') is a species of freshwater cave snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Amnicolidae.Bouchet, P. (2014). Antrobia culveri Hubricht, 1971. Accessed through ...

(''Antrobia culveri'') * Manitou cavesnail (''

Antrorbis breweri ''Antrorbis breweri'', common name Manitou cavesnail, is a species of freshwater snail with gills and an operculum, an aquatic gastropod mollusk in the family Lithoglyphidae. The specific name ''breweri'' is in honor of Dr. Stephen Brewer, the ...

'') * ''

Cecilioides ''Cecilioides'' is a genus of very small, air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Ferussaciidae.MolluscaBase eds. (2020). MolluscaBase. Cecilioides A. Férussac, 1814. Accessed through: World Register of ...

'' * Phantom cave snail (''Cochliopa texana'') * Peck's cave snail (''

Glyphyalinia pecki ''Glyphyalinia pecki'' is a species of air-breathing land snails, terrestrial pulmonate gastropod mollusks in the family Zonitidae. This species is endemic Endemism is the state of a species being found only in a single defined geographic ...

'') * Maitai Cave snail ('' Hadopyrgus ngataana'') * '' Laoennea renouardi'' * '' Neritilia mimotoi'' * Mimic cavesnail (''Phreatodrobia imitata'') * Cave physa (''Physella spelunca'') * ''

Pisulina maxima ''Pisulina maxima'' is a species of submarine cave snail, a marine gastropod mollusk in the family Neritiliidae Neritiliidae is a family of submarine cave snails,Kano Y. & Kase T. (2008). "Diversity and distributions of the submarine-cave Ne ...

'' * Tashan cave snail (''Trogloiranica tashanica'') * ''

Zospeum tholussum ''Zospeum tholussum'' or the domed land snail, is a cave-dwelling species of air-breathing land snails in the family Ellobiidae. It is a very small species, with a shell height of less than and a shell width of around . ''Z. tholussum'' indivi ...

Velvet worms

* White cave velvet worm (''Peripatopsis alba'') * '' Speleoperipatus spelaeus''

Arthropoda

Arachnida

* '' Acontius stercoricola'' * '' Adelocosa anops'' – Kauaʻi cave wolf spider * ''

Anapistula ''Anapistula'' is a genus of dwarf orb-weavers that was first described by Carl Eduard Adolph Gerstaecker in 1941. Species it contains thirty species, found in North America, the Caribbean, Africa, Oceania, Asia, South America, and Portugal: *' ...

'' (various spp.) * ''

Apneumonella ''Apneumonella'' is a genus of long-legged cave spiders that was first described by L. Fage in 1921. It is one of several genera, including ''Telema'', ''Usofila'', and ''Cangoderces'', whose relationship within the family and to these other gen ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Agraecina cristiani'' – Movile cave spider * ''

Anopsolobus subterraneus ''Anopsolobus'' is a monotypic genus of Polynesian araneomorph spiders in the family Orsolobidae containing the single species, ''Anopsolobus subterraneus''. It was first described by Raymond Robert Forster & Norman I. Platnick in 1985, and is on ...

'' * ''

Aops oncodactylus ''Aops'' is a monotypic taxon, monotypic genus of scorpions in the Urodacidae Family (biology), family. Its sole species is the troglofauna, troglobitic ''Aops oncodactylus'', which is endemism, endemic to Australia. It was first described in 2008 ...

'' – Barrow Island cave scorpion * '' Apochthonius mysterius'' – Mystery cave pseudoscorpion * '' Apochthonius typhlus'' – Stone County cave pseudoscorpion * ''

Baiami ''Baiami'' is a genus of Australian intertidal spiders that was first described by Pekka T. Lehtinen in 1967. Originally placed with the Stiphidiidae, it was transferred to the Desidae after the results of a 2019 genetic analysis. Species it co ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Calicina cloughensis'' * ''

Charinus spelaeus ''Charinus'' is a genus of amblypygids (whip-spiders) of the family Charinidae. Species , the genus comprised 107 species: * ''Charinus abbatei'' Delle Cave, 1986 * ''Charinus acaraje'' Pinto-da-Rocha, Machado & Weygoldt, 2002 * ''Charinus acos ...

'' * '' Chinquipellobunus madlae'' * ''

Chthonius In Greek mythology, the name Chthonius or Chthonios (, , "of the earth or underworld") may refer to: *Chthonius, an Egyptian prince as one of the sons of King Aegyptus. His mother was the naiad Caliadne and thus full brother of Eurylochus, ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Cicurina madla'' – Madla Cave meshweaver * '' Cybaeus'' (various spp.) * ''

Cybaeozyga heterops ''Cybaeozyga'' is a monotypic genus of North American araneomorph spiders in the family Cybaeidae containing the single species, ''Cybaeozyga heterops''. It was first described by R. V. Chamberlin & Wilton Ivie in 1937, and was moved to the Cyb ...

'' * ''

Cycloctenus ''Cycloctenus'' is a genus of Australasian araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, first described by L. Koch in 1878. Originally placed with the nursery web spiders, it was transferred to the family Toxopidae because of the distinctiv ...

'' (various spp.) * ''

Desognanops humphreysi ''Desognanops'' is a genus of spiders in the family Trachycosmidae Trachycosmidae, is a family of spiders in the infraorder Araneomorphae. Identification They can be identified by the lateral spinnerets, which are separated by the length o ...

'' * '' Dysderoides'' (various spp.) * '' Gamasomorpha'' (various spp.) * '' Herpyllus'' (various spp.) * '' Hesperochernes occidentalis'' – guano pseudoscorpion * '' Hexathele cavernicola'' * ''

Hickmania troglodytes ''Hickmania'' is a monotypic genus of Australian cribellate araneomorph spiders in the family Gradungulidae, containing only the Tasmanian cave spider (''Hickmania troglodytes''). The genus was first described by Willis J. Gertsch in 1958, and h ...

'' * '' Hongkongia'' (various spp.) * '' Lycosa howarthi'' * ''

Lygromma ''Lygromma'' is a spider genus of Central and South America. There are species with eight, six (e.g. ''L. senoculatum'', ''L. valencianum'') and no eyes. The eyeless ''L. anops'' is endemic to the Galapagos, while the distantly related blind ' ...

'' sp. * ''

Hormurus polisorum ''Hormurus polisorum'', also known as the Christmas Island cave scorpion, is a species of troglofauna, troglobitic scorpion in the Hormuridae Family (biology), family. It is endemism, endemic to Australia’s Christmas Island in the eastern Indi ...

'' – Christmas Island cave scorpion * ''

Maymena ''Maymena'' is a genus of spiders in the family Mysmenidae. It was first described in 1960 by Gertsch. , it contains 13 species. Species ''Maymena'' comprises the following species: *''Maymena ambita'' (Barrows, 1940) *'' Maymena calcarata'' (Si ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Mesostalita nocturna'' * '' Mimetus strinatii'' * '' Mundochthonius cavernicolus'' – cavernicolous pseudoscorpion * ''

Neobisium maritimum ''Neobisium maritimum'' is a species of pseudoscorpion in the Neobisiidae family. Description The species are long. It has two pairs of eyes that are positioned at the front of the cephalothorax. The colour of it is black, with orange-red cl ...

'' * ''

Nukuhiva adamsoni ''Nukuhiva'' is a genus of spiders with a single species, ''Nukuhiva adamsoni'', that occurs only on the Marquesas Islands in French Polynesia. It is in the wolf spider family, Lycosidae. It has been found on Nuku Hiva and on Ua Huka, a smaller ...

'' * ''

Olin platnicki ''Olin platnicki'' is the only species in the monotypic spider genus ''Olin'' in the family Trachycosmidae. It is native to Christmas Island and Sulawesi. Taxonomy The genus and species were first described in 2001 by Christa L. Deeleman-Reinho ...

'' * ''

Ossinissa justoi ''Ossinissa'' is a monotypic genus of cellar spiders containing the single species, ''Ossinissa justoi''. It was first described by D. Dimitrov & C. Ribera in 2005, and is only found on the Canary Islands. See also * List of Pholcidae species ...

'' * '' Parobisium yosemite'' – Yosemite cave pseudoscorpion * '' Phanetta subterranea'' * ''

Phanotea ''Phanotea'' is a genus of spiders in the family Zoropsidae Zoropsidae, also known as false wolf spiders for their physical similarity to wolf spiders, is a family of cribellate araneomorph spiders first described by Philipp Bertkau in 18 ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Phyxelida makapanensis'' * ''

Porrhomma cavernicola ''Porrhomma'' is a genus of Linyphiidae, sheet weavers that was first described by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1884. Species it contains twenty-five species, found in Europe and Asia: *''Porrhomma altaica'' Růžička, 2018 – Altai ( ...

'' – cavernicolous ''Porrhomma'' spider * '' Porrhomma rosenhaueri'' * '' Sinopoda scurion'' – Eyeless huntsman spider * ''

Spelocteniza ashmolei ''Spelocteniza'' is a genus of spiders in the family Microstigmatidae Microstigmatidae is a small family of spiders with about 38 described species in eleven genera. They are small ground-dwelling and free-living spiders that make little use ...

'' * '' Spelungula cavernicola'' – Nelson cave spider * '' Stalita taenaria'' * '' Stiphidion'' (various spp.) * ''

Tartarus In Greek mythology, Tartarus (; ) is the deep abyss that is used as a dungeon of torment and suffering for the wicked and as the prison for the Titans. Tartarus is the place where, according to Plato's '' Gorgias'' (), souls are judged after ...

'' (various spp.) * ''

Telema ''Telema'' is a genus of Telemidae, long-legged cave spiders that was first described by Eugène Simon, Eugène Louis Simon in 1882. Species it contains six species, most found in Asia, except for ''T. tenella'', found in Europe, and ''T. mayana ...

'' (various spp.) * ''

Telemofila ''Telemofila'' is a genus of long-legged cave spiders that was first described by J. Wunderlich in 1995. it contains two species, found on Sumatra and New Caledonia: '' T. pecki'' and '' T. samosirensis''. See also * List of Telemidae species ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Tengella'' (various spp.) * ''

Texella reddelli ''Texella reddelli'', the Bee Creek cave harvestman, is a rare species of troglobitic harvestman that was added to the United States endangered species list in 1988, at the same time as six other species native to the karst ecosystem in Travis C ...

'' * '' Titanobochica magna'' – cave pseudoscorpion * ''

Toxopsiella ''Toxopsiella'' is a genus of South Pacific araneomorph spiders in the family Cycloctenidae, and was first described by Raymond Robert Forster in 1964. Species it contains twelve species, all found in New Zealand: *'' Toxopsiella alpina'' Forst ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Trichopelma'' * ''

Troglodiplura beirutpakbarai ''Troglodiplura beirutpakbarai'' is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in South Australia. It was first described in 2020 by Mark Harvey and Michael Rix. The species epithet honours Beirut Pakbara (involved in Tha ...

'' * ''

Troglodiplura challeni ''Troglodiplura challeni'' is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in Western Australia. It was first described in 2020 by Mark Harvey and Michael Rix. The species epithet honours Craig Challen, for his contributio ...

'' * ''

Troglodiplura harrisi ''Troglodiplura harrisi'' is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in Western Australia, in caves on the Nullarbor Plain. It was first described in 2020 by Mark Harvey and Michael Rix. The species epithet honours Ric ...

'' * ''

Troglodiplura lowryi ''Troglodiplura lowryi'' is a species of spider in the family Anamidae, found in Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country comprising mainland Australia, the mainland of the Australia (continent), Aust ...

'' * ''

Troglodiplura samankunani ''Troglodiplura samankunani'' is a species of troglomorphic spider in the family Anamidae, found in Western Australia, in caves on the Nullarbor Plain. It was first described in 2020 by Mark Harvey and Michael Rix. The species epithet honours ...

'' * '' Troglokhammouanus steineri'' – Xe Bang Fai cave scorpion * ''

Trogloneta ''Trogloneta'' is a genus of spurred orb-weavers that was first described by Eugène Louis Simon in 1922. Species it contains twelve species, found in Europe, China, Japan, the United States, and Brazil: *'' Trogloneta canariensis'' Wunderlich ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Trogloraptor marchingtoni'' * '' Troglothele'' * ''

Usofila ''Usofila'' is a genus of American long-legged cave spiders that was first described by Eugen von Keyserling in 1891. Originally placed with the Ochyroceratidae, it was transferred to the Telemidae in 1973. Species it contains four species, fou ...

'' (various spp.) * '' Vietbocap lao'' – Nam Lot cave scorpion * ''

Wanops coecus ''Wanops'' is a monotypic genus of Mexican goblin spiders containing the single species, ''Wanops coecus''. It was first described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin & Vaine Wilton Ivie in 1938, and is only found in Mexico. See also * List of Oonopidae s ...

Myriapoda

;Millipedes Sinocallipus deharvengi head

* '' Causeyella'' species * '' Chaetaspis aleyorum'' – Aleys' cave millipede * '' Chersoiulus sphinx'' * ''

Desmoxytes ''Desmoxytes'', whose species are commonly known as the dragon millipedes, is a genus of millipedes of the family Paradoxosomatidae found in Southeast Asia. The genus was described by Ralph Vary Chamberlin in 1923, and reviewed by Sergei Golovatc ...

'' * '' Mammamia profuga'' * '' Polydesmus subterraneus'' * '' Sinocallipus'' * '' Tetracion'' * '' Tingupa pallida'' * '' Titanophyllum spiliarum'' * ''

Trichopetalum whitei ''Trichopetalum whitei'', common name Luray Caverns blind cave millipede, is a rare troglobitic (obligate cavernicolous) millipede of the upper Potomac River drainage in four Virginia counties and three West Virginia counties. It has been record ...

'' * '' Zosteractis interminata'' ;Centipedes * '' Cryptops speleorex'' * ''

Eupolybothrus cavernicolus ''Eupolybothrus cavernicolus'' is a species of centipede so far only found in two caves near the village of Kistanje, in Šibenik-Knin County, Croatia. It has been dubbed the ''cyber-centipede'' as it is the first eukaryotic species for which, ...

'' * '' Scolopocryptops troglocaudatus''

Crustacea

;Crayfish ;Others * ''

Allocrangonyx hubrichti ''Allocrangonyx'' is a genus of troglobite, troglobitic Amphipoda, amphipod crustaceans from the South Central United States. The two species are both listed as vulnerable species, vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. The animals are blind and unpigm ...

'' – Hubricht's long-tailed amphipod * '' Alpioniscus strasseri'' * '' Andhracoides gebaueri''– Belum cave isopod * '' Andhracoides shabuddin''– Guthikonda cave isopod * '' Androniscus dentiger'' – rosy woodlouse * '' Bactrurus brachycaudus'' – short-tailed groundwater amphipod * '' Bactrurus hubrichti'' – sword-tail cave amphipod * '' Bactrurus pseudomucronatus'' – false sword-tailed cave amphipod * '' Barburia yanezi'' * '' Caecidotea antricola'' – cave isopod * ''

Caecidotea dimorpha ''Caecidotea'' is a genus of crustaceans in the family Asellidae. It contains the following species: *'' Caecidotea acuticarpa'' Mackin & Hubricht, 1940 *'' Caecidotea adenta'' (Mackin & Hubricht, 1940) *'' Caecidotea alabamensis'' (Stafford, 19 ...

'' – Missouri cave isopod * '' Caecidotea fustis'' – Fustis cave isopod * '' Caecidotea salemensis'' – Salem cave isopod * '' Caecidotea serrata'' – serrated cave isopod * '' Caecidotea stiladactyla'' – slender-fingered cave isopod * ''

Caecidotea stygia ''Caecidotea'' is a genus of crustaceans in the family Asellidae The Asellidae are a family (biology), family of Isopoda, isopod crustaceans, one of the largest families of fresh water, freshwater isopods, living in both epigean and hypogean h ...

'' – stygian cave isopod * ''

Cancrocaeca ''Cancrocaeca xenomorpha'' is a species of troglobitic (cave-dwelling) freshwater crab from Sulawesi, the only species in the monotypic genus ''Cancrocaeca''. It has been described as the world's "most highly cave-adapted species of crab". Descri ...

'' * '' Cerberusa'' * '' Chaceus caecus'' * ''

Cyclops vernalis In Greek mythology and later Roman mythology, the Cyclopes ( ; , ''Kýklōpes'', "Circle-eyes" or "Round-eyes"; singular Cyclops ; , ''Kýklōps'') are giant one-eyed creatures. Three groups of Cyclopes can be distinguished. In Hesiod's ''The ...

'' * '' Diacyclops yeatmani'' – Yeatman's groundwater copepod * '' Diyutamon cereum'' * '' Gammarus acherondytes'' – Illinois cave amphipod * '' Holoped amazonicum'' * '' Lirceus usdagalun'' – Lee County cave isopod * '' Macromaxillocaris'' * '' Munidopsis polymorpha'' – Blind albino cave crab * '' Niphargus'' species * '' Orcovita hickski'' * '' Orcovita orchardorum'' * ''Palaemonias alabamae'' –

Alabama cave shrimp The Alabama cave shrimp (''Palaemonias alabamae'') is a species of Caridea, shrimp in the family (biology), family Atyidae, found only in caves in the state of Alabama. Conservation status ''Palaemonias alabamae'' is listed as an endangered spec ...

* ''Palaemonias ganteri'' – Kentucky cave shrimp * '' Phasmon typhlops'' * '' Samarplax principe'' * '' Spelaeorchestia koloana'' * '' Speocirolana'' * '' Stygiocaris'' * '' Stygobromus barri'' – Barr's cave amphipod * ''

Stygobromus clantoni ''Stygobromus clantoni'', commonly called Clanton's cave amphipod, is a troglomorphic species of amphipod in family Crangonyctidae. It is native to Kansas and Missouri Missouri (''see #Etymology and pronunciation, pronunciation'') is a U ...

'' – Clanton's cave amphipod * '' Stygobromus heteropodus'' – Pickle Springs amphipod * '' Stygobromus onondagaensis'' – Onondaga cave amphipod * '' Stygobromus ozarkensis'' – Ozark cave amphipod * '' Stygobromus parvus'' – minute cave amphipod * '' Stygobromus subtilis'' – subtle cave amphipod * '' Teretamon spelaeum'' * '' Troglocaris'' * '' Typhlatya'' * ''

Typhlocaris ''Typhlocaris'' is a genus of blind cave-dwelling shrimp, placed in its own family, Typhlocarididae. It contains 4 species: *''Typhlocaris ayyaloni ''Typhlocaris ayyaloni'' is a species of troglobitic shrimp in the family Typhlocarididae. ...

'' * '' Typhlocirolana'' * '' Typhlopseudothelphusa'' * ''

Villalobosius lopezformenti ''Villalobosius'' is a genus of crabs in the family Pseudothelphusidae, containing a single species, ''Villalobosius lopezformenti''. It lives in the northern part of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico, on the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, and is adapted to a ...

'' * '' Yucatalana'' Leptodirus hochenwartii

Insecta

Fish

* List of cave fish

Amphibians

Cave salamander A cave salamander is a type of salamander that primarily or exclusively inhabits caves, a group that includes several species. Some of these animals have developed special, even extreme, adaptations to their subterranean environments. Some specie ...

Mammals

No known mammals live exclusively in caves. Most

s sleep in caves during the day and hunt at night, but they are considered

troglophile Troglofauna are small cave-dwelling animals that have adapted to their dark surroundings. Troglofauna and stygofauna are the two types of subterranean fauna (based on life-history). Both are associated with subterranean environments – troglofa ...

s or

s. However some

fossorial A fossorial animal () is one that is adapted to digging and which lives primarily (but not solely) underground. Examples of fossorial vertebrates are Mole (animal), moles, badgers, naked mole-rats, meerkats, armadillos, wombats, and mole salamand ...

s which spend their whole lives underground might be considered subterranean

fauna Fauna (: faunae or faunas) is all of the animal life present in a particular region or time. The corresponding terms for plants and fungi are ''flora'' and '' funga'', respectively. Flora, fauna, funga and other forms of life are collectively ...

, although they are not true troglofauna as they do not live in caves.

Echinodermata

* '' Asterinides'' sp. * '' Copidaster cavernicola'' – Cozumel's cave sea star * '' Ophionereis commutabilis''

Porifera

* ''

Eunapius subterraneus Eunapius (; c. 347 - c. 420) was a Greek sophist, rhetorician, and historian from Sardis in the region of Lydia in Asia Minor. His principal surviving work is the ''Lives of Philosophers and Sophists'' (; ), a collection of the biographies of 24 ...

'' * '' Racekiela cavernicola''

Annelida

* ''

Erpobdella borisi ''Erpobdella'' is a genus of leeches in the family Erpobdellidae. Members of the genus have three or four pairs of eyes, but never have true jaws, and are typically long. All members do not feed on blood, but instead are predators of small aquat ...

'' * ''

Erpobdella mestrovi ''Erpobdella mestrovi'' is a species of troglobitic leech found only in deep caves in Northern Velebit, part of the Dinaric Alps of Croatia. The leech was first found in Lukina jama in 1994, which at 1431 meters deep is the deepest cave in Croat ...

'' * '' Haemopis caeca'' * '' Marifugia cavatica''

In popular culture

There is a zombie named the Troglobite in Plants vs. Zombies 2.

References

{{Reflist, 24em Cave animals

Troglobites A troglobite (or, formally, troglobiont) is an animal species, or population of a species, strictly bound to underground habitats, such as caves. These are separate from species that mainly live in above-ground habitats but are also able to live u ...