The southeastern Romanian movie Cave may not be at the top of your holiday list: no light descends from it, the air is thicker than toxic gases, and it was cut off from the outside world about 5.5 million years before its accidental discovery. In 1986.
Life is not like that in Movile, and scientists have identified the largest animal they have ever found there. It is a troglobionate (or underground) centipede named Cryptops Spilerex, And its length increases to 52 mm (2 inches).
The discovery takes the number of exclusive endemic species from the cave to 35, and it is possible to find many more in this fascinating underground network – even if only 5-6 hours are maintained in the caves each time.
The ‘King of Caves’ surveys its domain. (Mihai Basiu, GSAC Lab, Mangalia)
“The centipede we described is a venomous predator, the largest of the previously described animals from this cave,” the researchers say. “Considering its top rank in this underground system, we decided to name the race Cryptops Spilerex, Which can be translated as ‘King of the Cave’. “
Other creatures found so far in Movil’s lakes include water scorpions, lychees and small spiders. It all depends on the nutrients provided by the oxidation of gases, including methane and sulfur, by bacteria.
Relying on this type of chemosynthesis is the only ecosystem in the world, but cave is also unusual in other ways. Since being in complete darkness for millions of years, many of the following creatures here are blind and completely colorless.
Some species inside the Movil Cave can also be found outside its boundaries, but C. spelliorex Not one of them. An international team of scientists has discovered DNA. Using analysis to confirm that the centipede was indeed one that had never been seen before.
“Our results confirm our suspicions and reveal that the movie Centipede is morphologically and genetically different, suggesting that it is evolving over a period of millions of years from its closest surface-resident relative into a completely new classification that is better suited to life.” Says the darkness that never comes.
Cave exploration. (Mihai Basiyu, GSAC Lab, Mangalia)
With about half the normal level of oxygen in the air and plenty of hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia, and carbon dioxide, tourists heading down to the Movil Cave can be said to be short for researchers. It is also very humid in the cave.
Only a small number of explorers visit the underground network – including a 20-meter (-66-foot) lineage, and then have to clamber through the cramped spaces to reach the central cave and swim along the sunken channels to see anything ahead. Have.
This tour is undoubtedly appropriate from a scientific point of view. The organism that calls the cave home can learn a lot about how it lives in difficult conditions, how it grows in loneliness, and how it began on earth.
For now C. spelliorex The king of the cave – but it won’t take long before the big beast is seen in the dark.
After all, there is always a big centipede.
Research has been published in Zookies.
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