Troglofiileja

Troglofiileja is a Finnish term referring to organisms that are troglophiles, meaning they are capable of living in caves but can also survive outside of them. These organisms are not obligate cave dwellers; unlike troglobites, they do not require a cave environment to complete their life cycle. Troglofiileja are often found in the twilight zones of caves or in cave entrances where some light penetrates and environmental conditions are less extreme than in the deeper parts of the cave.

The life cycle of a troglofiile is not solely dependent on the stable and unique conditions of a cave. They may venture into caves to find shelter, escape unfavorable surface conditions such as drought or extreme temperatures, or to access food sources that are more readily available within the cave. However, they are also commonly found in other damp, dark, or sheltered environments on the surface, such as under rocks, in leaf litter, or in decaying logs.

Examples of troglofiileja include various species of insects, arachnids, and some amphibians. Their adaptations for cave life are often less pronounced than those of obligate cave dwellers. They may exhibit some degree of reduced pigmentation or elongated appendages, but these traits are not as extreme as in troglobites, which are highly specialized for a subterranean existence. The presence of troglofiileja in a cave ecosystem indicates a connection between the cave environment and the surrounding surface habitat.