William Atkins
Monday, 28 September 2009 18:55
Science -
Biology
Page 1 of 2
Australian researchers have discovered 850 new species while searching underground in the Australian Outback. The findings helps to confirm a much wetter climate for the area millions of years ago.
The four-year research project resulted in the discovery of 850 previously undiscovered species of spiders, worms, crustaceans, insects, and others in underground water (known as “stygofauna”), and caves and micro-caverns (called “troglofauna”).
One such new species is the
Phreatomerus latipes (“
Phreato” means 'underground'; “
merus” or 'spring'; “
lati” means 'wide'; and “
pes” or 'foot') found in Coward Springs, South Australia.
An image of the new species is found at
P. latipes. The freshwater isopod is dependent on its water environment, living only in mound springs.
Drs. Andy Austin (Australian Center for Evolutionary Biology and Biodiversity, University of Adelaide), Bill Humphreys (Western Australian Museum), and Steve Cooper (South Australian Museum) led the Australian team of eighteen researchers.
Dr.
Andrew “Andy” Austin is quoted in the EurekAlert.org article “
Researchers go underground to reveal 850 new species.”
He stated,
"What we've found is that you don't have to go searching in the depths of the ocean to discover new species of invertebrate animals – you just have to look in your own 'back yard'.”
Dr. Austin adds more comments on page two, along with an explanation from the Australian research team as to why the discovery of these species helps to explain climate change in Earth's past.
