At a glance
- IUCN category
- VU · Vulnerable
- Animal group
- Reptiles & Amphibians
- Population trend
- Decreasing
- Last verified
Conservation overview
The olm is a blind, cave-dwelling salamander that lives its whole life underground in the waters of European karst caves. It is assessed as Vulnerable.
Pale and eyeless, it can live for many decades and survive long periods without food.
Range & habitat
Underground waters of the Dinaric karst in south-eastern Europe.
Major threats
Threats below are drawn from the authoritative sources listed on this page. For the current, complete assessment, see the IUCN Red List.
- Water pollution reaching aquifers
- Disturbance of cave systems
- Its restricted, fragile habitat
Why it matters
A remarkable cave specialist sometimes called a 'baby dragon', the olm is an indicator of the health of fragile underground water systems.
A cave-dwelling, aquatic salamander of the Western Balkans.
Sources
Sources for Olm
- IUCN Red List — look up Olm (authoritative status)
- Animal Diversity Web
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the olm blind and pale?
Living in total darkness underground, it has lost functional eyes and skin pigment, while developing acute senses of smell and electroreception to find prey.
Why is the olm Vulnerable?
Published assessments cite water pollution that seeps into its aquifers, disturbance of cave systems, and its naturally restricted habitat. See the IUCN Red List.
Last updated: