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Find a bug - No Legs (On land, in soil)
Typical Earthworms
Order Crassiclitellata
Seqmented worm found mostly in the soil, sometimes in water.
📍 In or on soil, occasionally in water. Usually near entrances.
Typical Earthworms
Order Crassiclitellata
Seqmented worm found mostly in the soil, sometimes in water.
📍 In or on soil, occasionally in water. Usually near entrances.
Land Planarians
Subfamily Microplaninae
Unsegmented, squishy, can expand and contract a lot.
📍 On rock walls
Land Planarians
Family Geoplanidae
Unsegmented, squishy, can expand and contract a lot.
📍 On rock walls
Tollin's Pinwheel Snail
Trachycystis tollini
A small land snail with a flat, disc-like shell endemic to southern Africa; found sheltering deep in cave passages.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Pinwheel Snail
Trachycystinae
A subfamily of tiny land snails characterised by flat, low-spired, disc-like shells; restricted to southern Africa.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Dwarf Cannibal Snail
Nata vernicosa
A tiny predatory land snail that actively hunts and consumes other snails, despite its diminutive size.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Charybdis Land Snail
Cyclocystis charybdis
A South African land snail whose species name alludes to the mythological whirlpool Charybdis, referencing its tightly coiled spiral shell.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Variegated Semi-slug
Ariopelta variegata
An oopeltid semi-slug endemic to the Western Cape mountains; retains a small external shell, unlike true slugs, and shelters in damp cave entrances.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Two legs (and wings)
Not bugs, but found in caves.
Natal Bent-wing bat
Miniopterus natalensis
Smallish bat, often roosts in large numbers.
📍 Usually quite deep into the cave.
Geoffrey's Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus clivosus
Medium sized bat, light coloured tummy, distinctive U shaped nose
📍 Usually deep in the cave.
Cape Horseshoe Bat
Rhinolophus capensis
Very difficult to tell apart from R.clivosus
📍 Usually deep into the cave.
Egyptian fruit bat
Rousettus aegyptiacus
Large bat, 150mm long. Big eyes
📍 Usually found close to the entrance, or just into the dark.
Four legs
Although not bugs, frogs are often either washed into caves or seek the cool damp climate of caves. Both Heleophryne species are often found climbing up nearly vertical cave walls.
Common name
Breviceps montanus
A small, round, fossorial rain frog.
📍 Sometimes found in damp caves.
Clicking Stream Frog
Strongylopus grayii
A fairly small, slender, agile ground-dwelling frog.
📍 Sometimes found in caves.
Cape River Frog
Amietia fuscigula
Occurs in the Eastern and Western Cape.
📍 Sometimes washed into caves.
Poynton's River Frog
Amietia poyntoni
A river frog found from Namibia across South Africa.
📍 A pools in caves.
Table Mountain Ghost Frog
Heleophryne rosei
Critically endangered, medium-sized frog endemic to South Africa. Purple or brown blotches on a pale green background
📍 Climbing cave walls.
Cederberg Ghost Frog
Heleophryne depressa
A light to dark olive back marked with irregular maroon blotches.
📍 Endemic to the Cederberg mountains. Climbs cave walls.
Six legs
Insects are the most diverse group of cave-dwelling invertebrates. Many species are accidental visitors drawn in by darkness and moisture, while others — such as the Spelaeiacris cave cricket are true cave specialists adapted to life in permanent darkness. The Diplurans at the end of the list are not true insects, but do have six legs.
Darkling Beetle
Eurychora
A flightless, ground-dwelling darkling beetle genus endemic to southern Africa, often found on cave floors.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Peninsula Gnashing Cricket
Henicus brevimucronatus
Playtpus king cricket in the family Aostostomatidae. Not seen often.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Beetle
Coleoptera
An unidentified larvae.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Click Beetle
Elateridae
A beetle named for its ability to spring itself into the air with a loud, audible click when flipped onto its back.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Earwig
Antisolabis sulcatipes
A South African earwig species, readily identified by the distinctive forceps-like cerci projecting from the tip of the abdomen.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Cave Ground Beetle
Trechini
A tribe of highly adapted ground beetles, many of which are eyeless and depigmented, specialised for permanent cave life.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Crane Fly
Tipulidae
A large, long-legged fly that resembles a giant mosquito but is harmless, sheltering near cave entrances on cool, damp rock faces.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Cave Cricket
Pachyodontus languidus
A ground cricket found deep in the dark zones of South African caves, feeding on organic detritus and guano.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus
A small scavenging beetle whose larvae feed on organic matter such as bat guano, dead insects, and animal remains in caves.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Bark Louse
Psocodea
Tiny soft-bodied insects that feed on mould, fungi, and organic detritus, thriving in the rich substrates of cave floors.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Rove Beetle
Staphylinidae
A large family of beetles recognisable by their short wing covers, found scavenging among organic matter in cave twilight zones.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Moth
Lepidoptera
An unidentified moth using the cave twilight zone for daytime shelter; many moth species roost in caves to avoid predators.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Plaster Bagworm
Phereoeca
A small moth whose larvae construct distinctive flat, oval cases from fibres, dust, and debris, often plastered to cave walls.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
African Bat Bug
Afrocimex
A blood-feeding ectoparasite of cave-dwelling bats, closely related to bed bugs; populations can number millions in large bat roosts.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Fishfly
Taeniochauliodes fuscus
A large, soft-bodied insect in the order Megaloptera whose aquatic larvae develop in streams; adults often rest in caves.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Ant-like Stone Beetle
Euconnus
A tiny beetle in the rove beetle family that mimics ants in appearance, found among organic litter in cave twilight zones.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Snout Moth
Hypena commixtalis
A moth of the family Erebidae with a distinctive forward-projecting snout, commonly roosting in cave twilight zones during the day.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
True Fly
Diptera
An unidentified member of the true flies, the large order of two-winged insects found throughout cave environments.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Non-biting Midge
Chironomidae
A small, mosquito-like fly whose aquatic larvae commonly develop in the pools and slow-flowing streams of cave systems.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Table Mountain Cave Cricket
Spelaeiacris tabulae
Table Mountain Cave cricket only occurs on the Cape Peninsula. The body is approximately 10mm, while the antennae can be 40mm+.
📍 Throught cave systems from deep dark to entrance. Also makes surface excusions at night.
Hex River Cave Cricket
Spelaeiacris monslamiensis
Hex river mountains cave cricket.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Canescent Moth
Apisa canescens
A greyish-white moth of the family Erebidae found roosting on the walls and ceilings of South African caves.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Darkling Beetle
Tenebrionidae
An unidentified darkling beetle; a large family well-adapted to dark, dry conditions and a common scavenger in cave environments.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
True Fly
Diptera
An unidentified member of the true flies, the large order of two-winged insects found throughout cave environments.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Eight legs
Arachnids are the dominant eight-legged invertebrates in cave systems. South Africa's caves harbour a remarkable diversity of spiders, harvestmen, and mites — including several species found nowhere else on Earth.
Mite
Acari
Tiny, often microscopic arachnids that scavenge organic detritus, bat guano, and fungal growth deep in cave substrates.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Flatty Spider
Anyphops
A remarkably flattened, free-ranging nocturnal spider endemic to southern Africa; presses itself flush against rock surfaces to hide.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Orb-weaver Spider
Araneoidea
An unidentified spider in the superfamily that includes orb-weavers and cobweb spiders; often builds circular or irregular webs near cave openings.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
True Spider
Araneomorphae
An unidentified modern spider from the infraorder that contains the vast majority of the world's spider species.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Disc Harvestman
Caddella
A harvestman genus endemic to southern South Africa in the family Caddidae, recognised by its distinctively flattened disc-like body.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Cape Cave Harvestman
Cryptadaeum capense
A harvestman species endemic to the Cape region; harvestmen resemble spiders but have a single fused body segment and no silk glands.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Comb-toed Spider
Hahnia
A small spider in the family Hahniidae that builds flat, sheet-like webs close to the ground or along cave walls.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Cape Shadow Harvestman
Izithunzi capense
A Cape-endemic harvestman species found deep in cave systems; its name "izithunzi" is the Zulu word for shadow.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Long-legged Harvestman
Macrobunidae
A family of harvestmen in the order Laniatores; characterised by long slender legs used to navigate uneven cave surfaces.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Long-legged Angel Harvestman
Malaika longipes
A harvestman species whose genus name means "angel" in Swahili and whose species name refers to its exceptionally long legs.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Haddad's Orb-web Spider
Metellina haddadi
A South African spider in the family Tetragnathidae, named in honour of arachnologist Charles Haddad; builds orb webs in dark recesses.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Harvestman
Opiliones
An unidentified harvestman; unlike spiders, harvestmen have a single oval body with no waist, no venom, and no silk glands.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
False Wolf Spider
Phanotea
A genus of South African spiders in the family Zoropsidae that resembles wolf spiders; all 13 known species are endemic to South Africa.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Laceweb Spider
Phyxelididae
A family of African tunnel-web spiders that build intricate lacework sheet webs in dark, sheltered spots including cave entrances.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Illustrated Harvestman
Purcellia illustrans
A South African harvestman species whose species name refers to distinctive markings on its body; found in the deep dark zones of caves.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Spitting Spider
Scytodes
A unique predator that immobilises prey by spitting a venomous, sticky gum from up to 20mm away; several species specialise in cave habitats.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Wynberg Cave Harvestman
Speleomontia cavernicola
A harvestman endemic solely to the Wynberg Cave System on Table Mountain; one of South Africa's most range-restricted cave invertebrates.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Cape Cellar Spider
Spermophora peninsulae
A small pholcid spider restricted to the Cape Peninsula; spins loose, irregular webs in dark, damp recesses and cave passages.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Trapdoor Spider
Spiroctenus
A mygalomorph spider in the family Bemmeridae that constructs a silk-lined burrow sealed with a hinged trapdoor to ambush passing prey.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Cape False Widow
Steatoda capensis
A shiny black cobweb spider native to South Africa; resembles a black widow but is far less venomous; now invasive in New Zealand and Australia.
📍 Found in the transitional zone between twilight and darkness.
Cobweb Spider
Theridion
A widespread genus of comb-footed spiders that builds small, irregular cobwebs in sheltered corners and rocky overhangs near cave openings.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Many legs
Cave systems in South Africa host a remarkable diversity of multi-legged invertebrates. Centipedes and millipedes are among the most frequent cave visitors, alongside symphylans and terrestrial crustaceans such as isopods and amphipods.
Fynbos Stripe Red Millipede
Centrobolus digrammus
A red millipede with two dark dorsal stripes endemic the Western Cape, occasionally sheltering in cave twilight zones.
📍 Found in the entrance and twilight zone of caves.
Scolopendrid Centipede
Cormocephalus
A large, fast-moving centipede equipped with venomous forcipules; an active predator capable of a painful bite if handled.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Blind Centipede
Cryptops
A small, eyeless scolopendromorph centipede; the lack of eyes is a natural adaptation to permanently dark soil and cave environments.
📍 Found in the soil in cave entrances.
Flat-backed Millipede
Dalodesmidae
A family of flat-backed millipedes with distinctive lateral keels on their body segments; found scavenging organic matter deep in cave systems.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Garden Centipede
Hanseniella
A symphylan, not a true centipede; a soft-bodied, 12-legged soil arthropod that feeds on fungal hyphae and organic matter in cave substrates.
📍 Found throughout caves crawling through the soil.
Stone Centipede
Henicopidae
A family of small, agile centipedes in the order Lithobiomorpha; typically found under stones and in cave twilight zones hunting small invertebrates.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Snake Millipede
Julidae
A family of smooth, cylindrical millipedes that move in a characteristic wave-like motion using hundreds of tiny legs working in coordinated sequence.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Stone Centipede
Lithobiomorpha
An order of agile centipedes with exactly 15 pairs of legs; active nocturnal hunters that shelter under stones and in cave crevices during the day.
📍 Found in rich soils in caves.
Handsome Reddish-brown Centipedes
Paralamyctes
A centipede genus whose distribution traces the ancient supercontinent Gondwana, with species found in southern Africa, Australia, and South America.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Cape Stone Centipede
Paralamyctes asperulus
A lithobiomorph centipede endemic to the Cape region of South Africa, found deep in cave passages where it preys on small invertebrates.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Flat-backed Millipede
Polydesmida
The largest order of millipedes, recognised by broad flat body segments with prominent lateral keels; many species are depigmented cave specialists.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Giant Pill Millipede
Sphaerotherium
Africa's largest pill millipede; rolls into a perfectly smooth, impenetrable ball up to the size of a ping-pong ball when threatened.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Cave Isopod
Styloniscus tabulae
A family of terrestrial isopods (woodlice relatives) that have successfully colonised cave environments in southern Africa, feeding on organic detritus.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Land Hopper
Talitroidea
A superfamily of terrestrial amphipods that jump vigorously when disturbed; several species have colonised moist cave twilight zones in southern Africa.
📍 Found in the soil in the entrance and twilight zone of caves.
In the water
Flatworm
Dugesiidae
Squidgy flatworm found patrolling cave pools. Often stuck to the underside of rocks.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Flatworm
Dugesiidae
Squidgy flatworm found patrolling cave pools. Often stuck to the underside of rocks.
📍 Found near cave entrances.
Flatworm
Dugesiidae
Squidgy flatworm found patrolling cave pools. Often stuck to the underside of rocks.
📍 Found in the twilight zone of caves.
Cave shrimp
Paramelita barnardi
Shrimp like, about 9mm long, lying on its side in pools.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Cave shrimp
Paramelita capensis
Shrimp like, up to 18mm long, lying on its side in pools.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Cave shrimp
Paramelita nigroculus
Black eyed cave shrimp.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.
Table Mountain Cave Shrimp
Spelaeogriphus lepidops
Endemic to Table Mountain.
📍 Found deep in the dark zone of caves.