For humans, caves are dark, moist, and often dangerous places. However, caves are also home to many animals that live strange lives: blind beetles that eat bat poop and appreciate it; tiny spiders that spin webs to catch insects, also known as flying food; and white salamanders that swim in cave ponds without getting lost, at least not all the time. Most of these animals do not have eyes--why would you need eyes when you live in the dark? Instead, they have developed other special senses to "see" in the dark. These animals look nothing like the ones you know, and many of them are endangered because they can only live in caves. Mining, pollution, and climate change are threatening cave animals and all their weirdness. Anyone can study and help them, even you!
Life in the darkness of caves
Stefano Mammola;
2022
Abstract
For humans, caves are dark, moist, and often dangerous places. However, caves are also home to many animals that live strange lives: blind beetles that eat bat poop and appreciate it; tiny spiders that spin webs to catch insects, also known as flying food; and white salamanders that swim in cave ponds without getting lost, at least not all the time. Most of these animals do not have eyes--why would you need eyes when you live in the dark? Instead, they have developed other special senses to "see" in the dark. These animals look nothing like the ones you know, and many of them are endangered because they can only live in caves. Mining, pollution, and climate change are threatening cave animals and all their weirdness. Anyone can study and help them, even you!I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.


