There are some animals that live above ground, but sometimes visit the cave for food and protection. The most notable cave guests are bats, crickets, and salamanders. There are also some animals that like to live in dark and damp places like caves. The cave cricket is one of the most visible troglophiles that you will see in Mammoth Cave. They are different from regular crickets in that they don't chirp and their legs are very oversized - many people mistake them for a spider.
Cave salamanders are hard to find because they like to hide under rocks.
Salamanders near the surface have eyes and are colorful, but those deeper inside the cave are eyeless and colorless. Troglobites spend their entire life inside a cave. The last two troglobites live in the lowest area of Mammoth Cave, Echo River, and rely upon their antennae and sensors to find sources of food in the river. Some of the first people to explore Mammoth Cave are believed to be the Adena Indians over 4,000 years ago. It is not believed that they lived in the cave but only explored in it.