{{Short description|Animals which inhabit caves periodically or accidentally}} '''Trogloxenes''' or '''subtroglophiles''', also called '''cave guests''', are animal [[species]] which periodically live in underground habitats such as caves or at the very entrance, but cannot live exclusively in such habitats.<ref>"Cave Plants and Animals". 9 December <{{cite web |url=http://ans.latech.edu/homes/wakeman/caves/cavelife.html |title=Cave Plants and Animals |access-date=2010-12-25 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100105202046/http://ans.latech.edu/homes/wakeman/caves/cavelife.html |archive-date=2010-01-05 }}></ref><ref name=Sket2008>{{Cite journal|last=Sket|first=Boris|year=2008|title=Can we agree on an ecological classification of subterranean animals?|journal=Journal of Natural History|volume=42|issue=21–22|pages=1549–1563|doi=10.1080/00222930801995762|s2cid=84499383|issn=0022-2933}}</ref> Among many scientists, trogloxenes and subtroglophile have slightly different but closely related meanings, with the former covering species that are occasional visitors to underground habitat and the latter species that live more permanently there, but have to go outside (for example, to find food).<ref name=Sket2008/> Both these are in contrast to [[troglobite]]s, which strictly live in underground habitats.<ref name=Sket2008/>
Examples of trogloxene/subtroglophile species are bats, rats, [[raccoon]]s and some [[opiliones]] (this last group also has fully troglobitic species). Several extinct trogloxenes are known like [[cave bear]]s, [[Panthera spelaea|cave lions]], [[European Ice Age leopard|cave leopards]], and [[cave hyena]]s. Indications trusted by geologists and archaeologists combine to show that these animals lived there in the latter part, at least, of the third [[interglacial]] epoch, and on through the fourth and [[Last Glacial Maximum|last glacial advance]], when, although central Europe was free from an ice cap, an almost Arctic climate prevailed, with much rain. This is what is known as the [[Upper Paleolithic]] when humanity in Europe was represented by the [[Neanderthals]].<ref name="ea" /> During the Upper Paleolithic, many carnivores gradually adapted by increased fur and resorting far more than previously to the shelter of caves. The cave bear (''Ursus spelaeus'') was the most habitual in its use of caves, and occupied caves before humans began to do so.<ref name="ea">{{Americana|wstitle=Cave Animals|first=Ernest |last=Ingersoll |authorlink=Ernest Ingersoll |inline=1}}</ref>
The name Trogloxene comes from Greek, ''Troglos'' meaning cave and ''Xenos'' guest''.''<ref>{{Cite web |date=1970-01-01 |title=How Cave Biology Works |url=https://science.howstuffworks.com/life/biology-fields/cave-biology.htm |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=HowStuffWorks |language=en-us}}</ref>
==See also== *[[Stygofauna]]
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
{{Caves}}
[[Category:Cave animals]]
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