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The edaphic fauna, a scientific name that encompasses the animals that live underground and/or soil, feel at ease with their underground world. It's a group of very interesting creatures that after thousands of years of evolution they still prefer to live underground rather than ascending to the surface.
In this subterranean ecosystem live from microscopic animals, fungi and bacteria to reptiles, insects and mammals. There is many meters deep in the earth there is this life that grows, is very changeable, active and, at the same time, balanced.
If this dark, wet, brown world under the ground we tread catches your eye, keep reading this PeritoAnimal article, where you'll learn about some of the animals that live underground.
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Mole
Among the animals that live on the ground, it is clear that we would not fail to mention the famous moles. If we ran an experiment in which an excavating machine and a mole competed in proportion, it wouldn't be surprising if the mole won the contest. these animals are nature's most experienced diggers - there is no one better to dig long tunnels under the ground.
Moles have small eyes compared to their bodies due to the simple fact that, evolutionarily, they didn't need a sense of sight to feel comfortable in that dark environment. These underground animals with long claws live especially in North America and the Eurasian continent.
Slug
Slugs are animals of the suborder Stylommatophora and their main characteristics are the shape of their body, their consistency and even their color. They are creatures that can look strange because they are slippery and even slimy.
land slugs are gastropod molluscs who have no shells, like their close friend the snail, who carries his own shelter. They only come out at night and for a short time, and in the dry seasons they take refuge underground practically 24 hours a day, while they wait for the rains to arrive.
camel spider
The camel spider gets its name from the elongated shape of its legs, which are very similar to the camel legs. They have 8 limbs and each of them can measure up to 15 cm in length.
they say they are a bit aggressive and although its venom is not deadly, it stings a great deal and can be quite unpleasant. They run with great agility, reaching 15 km/h. They like to spend a lot of time under rocks, also in holes and inhabit dry areas such as savannas, steppes and deserts.
Scorpion
Considered one of the deadliest animals in the world, there is no denying that the scorpions have a very eccentric beauty, but it is still a kind of beauty. These creatures are true survivors of planet Earth, as they have been around for millions of years.
Scorpions are true warriors who can inhabit the most extreme places in the world. They are present in almost all countries, from the Amazon rainforest to the Himalayas and have the ability to burrow into frozen ground or thick grass.
Although some people keep scorpions as pets, the truth is that we must be careful when dealing with many of the known species. Also, some of them are protected, so it is essential be sure of its origin.
Bat
the bats are the only mammals that can fly. And although they like to spread their wings, they spend a lot of time underground, as well as being nocturnal.
These winged mammals make their home on virtually every continent except Antarctica. the bats live in underground environments when they are in the wild, but they can also inhabit any rock or tree crevice they find.
ant
Who doesn't know how much ants like to stay underground? They are experts in underground architecture, so much so that they can even build complex cities underground.
When you walk around, imagine that under our steps are millions of ants working to protect their species and to strengthen their precious habitat They are a real army!
Pichiciego minor
The pichiciego-minor (Chlamyphorus truncatus), also called the pink armadillo, is one of the rarest mammals in the world and one of the cutest as well. It is worth mentioning that it is also one of the smallest species, measuring between 7 to 10 cm, that is, it fits in the palm of a human hand.
They are fragile but, at the same time, strong like a newborn human baby. They are very active at night and spend most of their time wandering the underworld where they can move with great agility. This type of armadillo is endemic in South America, specifically in central Argentina and of course it should be on our list of animals that live underground.
worm
These annelids have a cylindrical body and live in moist soils across the planet. While some are a few centimeters, others are much larger, being able to exceed 2.5 meters in length.
In Brazil, there are about 30 earthworm families, the largest of which is the earthworm rhinodrilus alatus, which is about 60cm long.
And now that you've met several animals that live underground, don't miss this other PeritoAnimal article about blue animals.
If you want to read more articles similar to Animals that live underground, we recommend that you enter our Curiosities section of the animal world.