Spelean Fauna

With over 600 species already classified, the Brazilian spelean fauna is the richest in South America.

The caverns have environments very differentiated from the external environments, usually characterized by the absence of light and superior vegetation, by the small humidity and temperature variation, and by the peculiar air and water chemical composition. Each cavern may present different habitats (lakes and rivers, clay banks, bat guano deposits etc) and different ecological zones depending on the larger or smaller distance to the entrance(s).

A very characteristic fauna adapted to these environmental conditions exists in the spelean environment. The animals are classified in three main groups:

Troglobites
Animals exclusive of caverns, which usually have physiological, behavioral and morphological adaptations (dispigmentation, eye atrophy etc). Fish, crustaceans and insects, for example, are common among the species of this group already identified in Brazilian caves.

Troglophyles
Aspecies ecologically adapted to the caves, although without specialization to impede their development also in the external environment. Crustaceans, spiders, lice and insects are common among the Brazilian troglophyles.

Trogloxons
Surface animals that use the caverns regularly as shelter, refuge, feeding or reproduction place. The trogloxons include bats, which leave the caverns regularly for feeding.

by Clayton Ferreira Lino