Cave Dwellers

Amphibians are cold-blooded vertebrates that live in water and breathe with gills when they are young. As they mature, they develop lungs and live on land. However, not all species go through this common metamorphosis. The olm, or cave salamander, retains external gills and a tail fin throughout its life. The amount of time it takes for the young to mature depends on water temperature.

Found mostly along the Adriatic Sea, the olm dwells in underwater caves. It also lives in underground freshwater lakes and streams in the mountains. These bodies of water contain high amounts of oxygen. The temperature of the water ranges from 40 to 60 degrees. The animals generally live almost 1,000 feet below the surface of the water.

The relatively inaccessible habitat of olms makes studying them difficult. Much of what we know about this animal has been learned from those in captivity. Scientists expect the life span to be around 100 years, making olms the longest-lived amphibian species.

Olms prey mostly on insects and spiders. They will also eat crustaceans and mollusks. Due to their underwater environment, the salamanders’ eyes are not well developed, although their eyes do have some sensitivity to light. Olms can sense chemicals, sound vibrations, and electric fields. They use these abilities to orient themselves as well as to detect prey. They have no known predators. As with many species, they are vulnerable due to loss of habitat and pollution.