They are blind and catch their food by using sensing vibrations caused by the movements of the tiny cave animals. Some breathe through feathery gills on their necks. The Ozark blind salamander spends its youth as an aquatic larva with gills in the springs around the entrance of a cave. It goes through a metamorphosis period to become an adult and looses its gills. It retreats into the deeper, dark area of the cave and skin grows over its dysfunctional eyes.
Cave fish are long and skinny.
They use gliding strokes in order to swim. They are able to swim a long distance in order to find food. Instead of eyes they have nerves on their heads and along their sides that sense isopods, amphipods, and other food moving around them. When their young feel movements, they remain still because their parents are cannibalistic and will eat them. They have a pinkish, white appearance.