Random Creepiest, Most Alien Creatures That Only Live In Caves (13 items)

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  (#1) KauaʻI Cave Wolf Spider Is Endangered

  This cave dwelling critter is blind as a bat, but he’s actually a spider. One of the strangest aspects of his anatomy is that the Kauaʻi Cave wolf spider is the only member of the big eyed spider species who doesn’t have eyes at all. Classified as a troglofauna troglobite, or land dwelling, cave-only creature, this astounding endangered spider is so rare that only three populations of its kind are known to be in existence. Conservation efforts are becoming a pivotal factor in securing this particular spider’s place on the planet. You can find the Kauaʻi Cave wolf spider scurrying through the Koloa-Poipu cave system, hunting down its favorite prey, the Kaua‘i cave amphipod, a tiny crustacean that is, unfortunately, also endangered.

  This mesmerizing spider is quite distinguished in its looks. In addition to having a vacant space where eyes should be, it’s also semi transparent and earth toned with silver haired, spindly legs. In addition to population and appearance, the Kaua‘i is unique in that it lacks the characteristic most associated with spiders to begin with. It doesn’t take the time to spin a web. In order to devour prey, this eyeless, webless spider relies on its three vampire-esque, puncturing fangs and its fast, nimble legs, hunting, capturing, and consuming all in one exaggerated movement.
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  (#7) Texas Blind Salamander

  The troglobite amphibian known as the Texas blind salamander wears its gills on the outside, and they are a terrifying crimson shade. Surviving on cave dwelling shrimp and snails, this creepy looking salamander spends its life in utter darkness, with spots for eyes and virtually no pigment upon its flesh. Though the salamander may be blind, he is the ruler within his confined, obligated habitat, the head honcho of the Texas cave system, so to speak.
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  (#4) The Olm Is The Only Salamander Who Spends Its Entire Life Underwater

  The olm is a true aquatic troglobite with characteristics distinct to its cave dwelling lifestyle. While it might resemble a translucent snake, or even a body snatching space creature, this odd-looking animal is actually a salamander. It spends its entire life underwater, which is unique to other salamanders found outside of the cave system.

  The olm is technically blind, but its sensory system does come complete with photoreceptors that allow it to retain light sensitivity, a component several cave creatures lack, most notably the Phreatichthys andruzzii. The olm is also equipped with taste buds that can detect toxic chemicals, a lateral line that supports up to 15,000 Hz of underwater hearing, and a previously unknown organ on the crown of its head that scientists are now referring to as the ampullary organ. This salamander also has some sort of perception of the Earth’s magnetic field.
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  (#11) New Providence Cusk-Eel Is A Mysterious Creature That Loves Blue Holes

  This mystifying fish is a Caribbean cave dweller, suspected to be endangered or vulnerable to endangerment as a result of human disturbance. Classified as a stygofauna troglobite, the strange looking cusk eel can currently only be seen by deep-sea diving spelunkers with an aptitude for plunging into the depths of ominous blue holes, the likes of which even some of the most daring adventures are afraid to explore. These eels have been seen thriving in both freshwater and saltwater, making them incredibly adaptable in their habitat and also somewhat difficult to research.

  They are known to adumbrate at the entrances of submerged caves in anticipation of capturing their next meal. While the cusk eel is believed to be a passive forager on the hunt, vegetables were found in the intestines of one of its most comparable eel relatives, meaning it might just have a taste for plants and prey alike.
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  (#9) The Kaua'i Cave Amphipod Has Played A Huge Part In Hawaii's Ecosystem For Five Million Years

  The Kaua'i Cave amphipod is an organic eater, crawling blindly through the darkness of the Hawaiian cave system, prey for an endangered predator known as the Kaua'i Cave wolf spider. Both the spider and this amphipod have some things in common though, namely blindness and the looming possibility of extinction. Stakes are high for this strange, ghostly looking creature whose ancestors appear to have played a pivotal part in Hawaii’s ecosystem for at least five million years or more.
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  (#6) A Hausera Has A Very Strange Body

  This wormy looking guy has some of the most baffling anatomy known to man. He’s a subterranean troglobite from a family of freshwater triclads. Hausera made history when it became the first cave dwelling species of its kind to be recorded in South America. Since then, it has continued to astound the scientific community with its little oddities, which include ovaries positioned within close proximity to the brain, genitalia that seem to communicate with the intestine, and a completely eyeless body void of any sort of pigment.

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