For the first time, scientists have observed ancient cave-dwelling olms—nicknamed “baby dragons” for their ghostly appearance—venturing out of their deep, dark habitats and into daylight surface springs in northern Italy. These reclusive amphibians, once believed to spend their entire lives in total darkness, are now being spotted in 15 different above-ground locations. Even more astonishing, one larval olm was seen exposed in the open, suggesting a surprising shift in behavior or even surface-level breeding.
Olms are highly adapted to cave life—blind, slow-growing, and capable of living over 100 years—so sightings in bright environments were considered nearly impossible. Researchers also noted these creatures feeding on earthworms, an above-ground delicacy never associated with their diet before. This behavioral evolution challenges decades of assumptions about Europe’s most enigmatic amphibian and raises urgent questions about climate adaptation and survival.
#BabyDragons #Olm #CaveCreatures #EvolutionInAction #WildlifeDiscovery
Olms are highly adapted to cave life—blind, slow-growing, and capable of living over 100 years—so sightings in bright environments were considered nearly impossible. Researchers also noted these creatures feeding on earthworms, an above-ground delicacy never associated with their diet before. This behavioral evolution challenges decades of assumptions about Europe’s most enigmatic amphibian and raises urgent questions about climate adaptation and survival.
#BabyDragons #Olm #CaveCreatures #EvolutionInAction #WildlifeDiscovery
For the first time, scientists have observed ancient cave-dwelling olms—nicknamed “baby dragons” for their ghostly appearance—venturing out of their deep, dark habitats and into daylight surface springs in northern Italy. These reclusive amphibians, once believed to spend their entire lives in total darkness, are now being spotted in 15 different above-ground locations. Even more astonishing, one larval olm was seen exposed in the open, suggesting a surprising shift in behavior or even surface-level breeding.
Olms are highly adapted to cave life—blind, slow-growing, and capable of living over 100 years—so sightings in bright environments were considered nearly impossible. Researchers also noted these creatures feeding on earthworms, an above-ground delicacy never associated with their diet before. This behavioral evolution challenges decades of assumptions about Europe’s most enigmatic amphibian and raises urgent questions about climate adaptation and survival.
#BabyDragons #Olm #CaveCreatures #EvolutionInAction #WildlifeDiscovery
