Cave Biology

Western Cape cave fauna — observations, photo galleries and atlas data

The caves of the Western Cape support a remarkable range of animals adapted to life underground. This section documents cave-associated species observed by Peter Swart, drawing on data from iNaturalist and dedicated field surveys of caves across the Cape Peninsula and surrounding ranges.

Sections

Cave Animal Photo Gallery

A visual guide to animals found in Western Cape caves, grouped by number of legs. Each entry includes a photo, species description, and a link to the original iNaturalist observation.

Browse the gallery →

Cave Invertebrate Atlas Project

A systematic iNaturalist project documenting the invertebrate fauna of caves in the Western Cape. Currently holds 973 observations covering 263 taxa.

Browse the Atlas →