troglo-, trogl-

Resembling or characteristic of creatures that live underground: Fish that exist in caves have troglodytish features; such as, pale skin and no eyes.

The habit of dwelling in grottos or small caves: In the winter, several kinds of bats exist in habitats of troglodytisms as they hibernate there in huge colonies.

An abnormal desire to be in or to dwell in subterranean cavities: Sam, the strange young man who was seen in the village, appeared to experience a form of troglomania, preferring to live in a cavern instead of a house.

Someone who has an abnormal desire to be in or to reside in underground chambers: Although the old man had been diagnosed as a troglomaniac, his condition was not considered life-threatening and he was allowed to continue to live in the nearby tunnel in the mountain.

A living area comprising subterranean water bodies in grottos and passages: The troglon is the smallest geographical unit in a biosphere or of a habitat that is restricted and limited by boundaries and is characterized by its total flora (plants) and fauna (animals) in a given area.

Any animal attracted to and frequently found in underground caves or subterranean passages, but not necessarily confined to them: Some creatures are found mainly near entrances to caves and still have eyes and pigments, so they are classified as troglophiles.

1. A reference to an animal attracted to underground caves or passages, but not confined to them: Mountain lions are troglophlic felines which seek shelter in caves from inclement weather or from predators.
2. A descriptive term for creatures thriving in subterranean hollows: Many troglophilic bats are roosting in caves during the day and emerging in great numbers when night comes.

An unnatural desire or attraction to reside in an underground area: The homeless man demonstrated a form of troglophily by choosing to live in a dugout instead of on the street at night.

An abnormal panic of being in cavities or chambers in the ground: Spelunkers certainly don't have troglophobias or they couldn't survive during their explorations.

Referring to an excessive hatred or fear of being in a subterrane: When Sam and Jim were climbing up a mountain, a sudden thunder storm took place and Jim had a serious troglophobic reaction and refused to go into the cavern, so he just stood near the entrance.

1. A being found only occasionally in underground passages: Sam, the park naturalist, was charting the number of different trogloxenes who live from time to time in the caves, including hikers who get lost and sleep in them overnight.
2. A cavern guest; an animal that spends occasionally short periods in dark recesses: Hibernating bears are a common form of trogloxene, spending part of the winter season in large holes, or dens, in mountains or underground.

A reference to any creature or living thing that is occasionally found in subterranean passages: Usually trogloxenous species are near the entrances to holes; such as, certain snails that use the dark, moist refuge there, or reddish salamanders that favor the slippery rocks of the twilight zone and climb the walls aided by their long tails.

An organism or animal that is found in underground passages once in a while: An example of trogloxenies are cave swallows, which use caves on a temporary basis to build their cup-shaped nests for their young.