# Are there any deadly creatures in underground caves? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 4, 2010, 12:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855 "2010-06-04T00:27:13Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![lazybratsche](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ba8739/32.png) [@lazybratsche](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lazybratsche)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/21 "2010-06-04T17:57:31Z")
> [@MikeS](#): > > There are known to exist [bacteria whose energy is ultimately derived from radioactive decay](http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S16/13/72E53/index.xml) rather than sunlight, which is pretty damn awesome. However, I’m pretty sure that anything larger ultimately derives its energy from sunlight. Not quite. There are bacteria that extract energy from inorganic chemicals and can use it to fix carbon dioxide. No sunlight needed. And these bacteria form the basis of some impressively large and diverse [deep sea vent communities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent_community#Biological_communities), ultimately feeding all sorts of crabs and fish and giant tube worms and plenty of things we haven’t even discovered yet. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/22 "2010-06-04T18:09:11Z")
> [@](#): > > Ah, but the cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers tend to come out of their caves under the cover of night to procure protein. In cities, yeah. There are plenty of animals, garbage, and the occasional person who won’t be missed. But out in the woods, I think it’d be iffier. And you’d think they’d leave signs of their passage for the spelunkers to see. And they wouldn’t be so blind. ---
**Author:** ![MikeS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/919ad9/32.png) [@MikeS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeS)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/23 "2010-06-04T20:27:30Z")
> [@lazybratsche](#): > > Not quite. There are bacteria that extract energy from inorganic chemicals and can use it to fix carbon dioxide. No sunlight needed. And these bacteria form the basis of some impressively large and diverse [deep sea vent communities](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrothermal_vent_community#Biological_communities), ultimately feeding all sorts of crabs and fish and giant tube worms and plenty of things we haven’t even discovered yet. It appears that you’re right. I remembered _D. audaxviator_ was unique in some particular regard, but it’s that it’s represents the first known [“single-species ecosystem”](http://www.universetoday.com/2008/10/14/single-species-ecosystem-gives-hope-for-life-on-other-planets/), not that it doesn’t derive its energy from sunlight. ---
**Author:** ![Gagundathar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a183cd/32.png) [@Gagundathar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gagundathar)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/24 "2010-06-04T20:50:54Z")
Has anyone yet suggested DRAGONS? ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/25 "2010-06-04T21:19:14Z")
Do not fall & break a leg where the bat guano is 3 feet deep or more. Or K.O. yourself. The roaches, beetles & maggots might very well get you. ---
**Author:** ![RedSwinglineOne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a9adbd/32.png) [@RedSwinglineOne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedSwinglineOne)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/26 "2010-06-04T21:45:44Z")
> [@Odesio](#): > > Ah, but the cannibalistic humanoid underground dwellers tend to come out of their caves under the cover of night to procure protein. That reminds me, I have the DVD ["C.H.U.D."](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C.H.U.D.)at home. I need to get around to watching it. ---
**Author:** ![YogSothoth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/8edcca/32.png) [@YogSothoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/YogSothoth)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2010, 10:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855/27 "2010-06-04T22:52:32Z")
I’m also going to say CHUDs 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-there-any-deadly-creatures-in-underground-caves/541855.md?page=1)