Scientists just caught ghost white "baby dragons" outside their caves.

 

Scientists just caught ghost white "baby dragons" outside their caves.

For centuries, the olm — an eerie, cave-dwelling salamander long known as "baby dragons" — were believed to spend their entire life in the inky blackness of underground water systems.

But new research from northern Italy reveals these elusive creatures are making unexpected trips to the surface. Scientists spotted olms in 15 aboveground springs, even during daylight hours, which are typically hostile to such highly specialized cave animals.

One surprising discovery was a larval olm in the open—a first-of-its-kind find that hints at the possibility of surface breeding, though researchers believe it's rare.Even more intriguing, the olms appear to be dining during these excursions. Of 12 handled olms, five had recently eaten surface-dwelling earthworms, confirming their ventures were not accidental. While these journeys demand significant energy, the salamanders showed signs of thriving, with some even appearing unusually well-fed.

These findings challenge long-held assumptions about the olm’s strictly subterranean lifestyle and open new questions about the adaptability and behavior of one of Europe’s most mysterious amphibians.