Most of us see only the dry treeless plain and spectacular sea cliffs. But beneath the surface there’s a precious world of caves and unique species that could be lost without better protection.

The caves are as important for their geological value and what they can teach us about Australia’s past, as they are for the unique animals they house, the fossils they hold and their beautiful and unusual cave decorations.

Only cave divers can reach these passages, which include the longest underwater cave systems in Australia.

One such group of cave specialists are the blind cave spiders of the genus Troglodiplura.

These threats include predation by foxes, changes to water availability within the cave, or damage to the cave structure.

The geology, palaeontology, cultural history and biology of the Nullarbor caves reveal a wealth of distinctive features, but the Nullarbor is much more than the sum of its parts.