Avatar:Cavehopper

<infobox theme-source="nation"> <image source="image" /> <title source="name"><default>Cavehopper</default></title> <group> <header>General information</header> <label>Habitat</label> <label>Status</label> <label>Bending</label> <label>Uses</label> </group> <group> <header>Chronological information</header> <label>First appearance</label> <label>Last appearance</label> <label>Voiced by</label> </group> <header></header> </infobox> The cavehopper is an insect with a distinct albino appearance. Intolerant to sunlight, it spends most of its life inside the dimly-lit caverns of the Fire Nation, feeding on algae and other vegetation. Cavehoppers are the primary food source of the salamanders that live on the cave floors, and they are also a delicacy for toucan puffins who sometimes venture into them.

History

While staying in a beach cave, Team Avatar discussed the possibility of getting disguises; Toph reasoned that they could use the new clothing to blend in and get real food. To emphasize her point, she hit the wall, causing a group of cavehoppers to jump out and flee. One of the creatures was caught by Momo and promptly eaten, though the winged lemur subsequently spat out a half eaten limb.

Anatomy

Cavehoppers in a Fire Nation cave.

Cavehoppers are white and have long antennae protruding from their heads, along with two short front legs and two larger hind legs. As they are blind, their antennae act as feelers that can detect nearby objects. They also possess four semi-webbed feet in all, each of which are topped by toe-pads and are sensitive to vibrations in the ground. They also help cavehoppers to stick to the damp walls of caves so that they can hide from predators. When a cavehopper jumps, these webbed feet release their grip just before the insect flings itself to the air.

Behavior

Cavehoppers' ideal habitat are caves, where they spend their entire lives, as their lack of pigment would make them burn under the sun. These insects must be constantly jumping.

Connection

Cavehoppers seem to be based on a combination of cave crickets and grasshoppers, though real-life crickets have six legs instead of four. Grasshoppers are herbivorous insects with large hind legs adapted for leaping, much like those of the cavehooper. The limbs and webbed feet of the cavehopper resemble those of a frog, while its eyes are similar to a chameleon's.

See also

• Fauna in the World of Avatar