New species discovered underground while Down Under

William Atkins
Monday, 28 September 2009 17:55

Science - Biology

Dr. Austin added, "Our research has revealed whole communities of invertebrate animals that were previously unknown just a few years ago. What we have discovered is a completely new component to Australia's biodiversity."

And, "It is a huge discovery and it is only about one fifth of the number of new species we believe exist underground in the Australian outback.”

The team stated that these new species were probably living on the surface at one time (around fifteen million years ago).

However, they slowly evolved (over one to two million years) to live underground as past climate change saw central and southern Australia go from a very wet environment to a much drier one.

The Australian team reported their discovery at the “Darwin 200” evolution and biodiversity conference (which celebrates the 200th birthday [on February 12, 1809] of British naturalist Charles Darwin).

The conference is being held in Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, from September 25-28, 2009.

Darwin200 is the shortened name for “The Combined Australian Entomological Society’s 40th AGM & Scientific Conference / Society of Australian Systematic Biologists / 9th Invertebrate Biodiversity & Conservation Conference.”