This page will explore cave diversity excluding the flying mammals otherwise known as bats. This white crawfish is a common sight in many North American caves, and is interesting when you consider its evolutionary history. Cave crawfish use energy at a far slower rate than surface crawfish, this allows them to survive for longer periods of time when food supplies run short in caves. This picture is of a common crawfish known as Orconectes pellucidus, which can grow to be about 15 centimeters long.
Crustaceans are among the most prominent inhabitants of caves.
Amphipods, which resemble small shrimp, are laterally compressed. Reduced pigment and degenerate eyes of cave dwelling animals are called regressive characteristics. The surface dwelling ancestors of these animals had sight and pigment, but these traits were not essential to survival in a cave. Many species in caves including fish, salamanders, spiders, and various insects have adapted to have reduced pigment and degenerate eyes. Both pigment and eyes have degenerated in thousand of species during their adjustment to cave life.