Although people rarely see them, the earth is filled with underground animals who may never see sunlight for the entirety of their existence. Many of these creatures simply never come out of their burrows; however, some are nocturnal and may be seen, if only for a moment, under the cloak of night. Here are just five underground animals that rarely, if ever, see the light of day.
1. Badger
The badger resembles a skunk more than any other animal in appearance and lives in extensive underground burrows known as setts. Most badgers live in clans of two to fifteen, and they communicate with one another using sounds that bounce off of the networks of chambers and tunnels within their setts. They are found in North America, Europe, and even Asia, and they come out of their burrows only at night in order to hunt when needed (as the badger is an omnivore, with diets that both plants and animals).
2. Bilby
Native to Australia, the bilby is another nocturnal burrower. They are omnivores and require little water, as the plants and animals they consume substitute as an efficient water source. Additionally, the bilby is a marsupial with a gestation period of less than three weeks, making this one of the most interesting underground animals on earth.
3. Clam
The clam, unlike many oceanic creatures, rarely, if ever, sees the light of day. Clams not only live in the ocean, but they also burrow their ways into the ocean floor. These creatures feed on plankton and are located in bodies of water throughout the world.
4. Desert Tortoise
Although this animal is not nocturnal, the desert tortoise rarely sees the light of day. This animal, native to the Southwest region of the United States, lives the majority of its life underground, burrowed away from the light. It can actually survive for over a year without water and lives up to eighty years.
5. Naked Mole Rat
Naked mole rats live in underground colonies in Africa. They are the only animals that have a designated caste system, with the queen at the top. Naked mole rats adapt to the temperature of their surroundings, are nearly blind, and have long, protruding teeth.
Featured Image from Neil Bromhall/Shutter Stock
