In the caves of Slovenia and Croatia lives a blind, cave-dwelling salamander, the olm, also called the proteus or the “human fish”, for its pale, pinkish skin. In contrast to most amphibians, the olm is entirely aquatic, eating, sleeping, and breeding underwater.
Olms hunt their prey in the absolute darkness and have developed a powerful sensory system of smell, taste, hearing and electrosensitivity. They are an entirely aquatic species that can survive without food for up to 10 years and can live for 58 years or more.
With a body like an eel, an olm can propel itself quickly through pitch-black waters if needed, but most of the salamanders appear to prefer a sedentary (inactive) life. The olm’s eyes are undeveloped, leaving it blind, while its other senses, particularly those of smell and hearing, are acutely developed. It also lacks any pigmentation in its skin.
