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Oregon Caves National MonumentRanger programs at Oregon Caves National Monument.
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Oregon Caves National Monument
Insects, Spiders, Centipedes, Millipedes
A cricket found on the monument.

NPS

A cricket found on the monument.

We have a large diversity of "creepy crawlies" inside and on the surface of the cave. Our region also has at least 30 endemic cave invertebrates. This is not surprising, as caves hold more rare animals than anywhere or nearly anywhere else. The Sierra Nevada and Klamath-Siskiyous were a single mountain range during the Jurassic reign of the dinosaurs. If rejoined, the combined regions hold enough species to be one of the six hotspots of cave biodiversity in the U.S.  

Cave critters have evolved ways to save or acquire energy, they manage to live longer, move more efficiently, and have a higher survival rate for the young (few large eggs and long term caring of young). Many cave-adapted species save energy by reducing or altogether eliminating vision and pigments. Most have developed longer limbs, bodies and/or antenna for finding food faster in darkness.

 
From the vista on the Cliff Nature trail you can see the nation's largest serpentine rock outcrops in the distance.  

Did You Know?
The mountains surrounding Oregon Caves are composed of ocean crust including rocks uplifted directly from the mantle. These mantle rocks make up one of the largest serpentine rock outcrops in the nation.

Last Updated: October 25, 2007 at 17:45 EST