amnhnyc:
Most animals that spend their lives in caves are blind...
Most animals that spend their lives in caves are blind and pale. Without light, eyes are useless, as are skin pigments, so animal populations that move into caves often lose these traits, evolving new qualities that are better suited for life in the dark. For instance, the olm, a long, thin salamander that lives in underground streams, is pigmentless and virtually blind, but possesses an acute sense of smell, sharp hearing, and organs that sense bioelectricity. It also boasts a line of specialized cells running the length of its body that can detect other animals moving in the water.
Meet more amazing creatures in Life at the Limits: Stories of Amazing Species, now open!
No comments have been added yet.
