A survey commissioned by the National Geographic Society has identified 850 new invertebrates living underground in the arid central region of Australia. It is believed that these creatures retreated to a subterranean environment about 15 million years ago when the continent's climate changed. They have survived in underground springs, aquifers, and "microcaverns."
Pictured above is a blind cave eel; other blind creatures discovered incude a spider, a fish, and a pseudoscorpion. A gallery of nine photos is available at the National Geographic website. See also related links here.
Photo credit Douglas Elford, Western Australian Museum.
Thanks so much for explaining that photo!!
ReplyDeleteI wonder how many medical wonders they may represent before we find ways to drive them to extinction.
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