Movile Cave in southeastern Romania would not be at the top of the list of holiday destinations: no light reaches, the air is full of poisonous gases and was stopped from the outside world for about 5.5 million years before the discovery its accidental. in 1986.
However, life exists in the Mounds, and scientists have identified the largest creature they have ever found. It is a troglobiont (or underground) centipede that was named Cryptops speleorexand increases to 52 mm (2 inches) in length.
The discovery leads to the number of unique endemic species in the cave at 35 and there are probably many more to be found in this fascinating underground network – even if explorers can manage for about 5-6 hours in caves each time.
The “king of the cave” oversees his domain. (Mihai Baciu, GESS LAB, Mangalia)
“The centipede we described is a venomous predator, by far the largest of the previously described animals in this cave,” say the researchers. “Thinking of its higher rank in this underground system, we decided to name the species Cryptops speleorex, which can be translated as “king of the cave”. “
Other creatures found so far in the depths of the Mounds include water scorpions, leeches and small spiders. All are based on nutrients provided by the oxidation of gases, including methane and sulfur by bacteria.
It is the only ecosystem in the world that relies on this type of chemosynthesis, but the cave is unusual in other ways. Being in complete darkness for millions of years, many of the creatures here are blind and completely colorless.
Some of the species in the Movile Cave can also be found outside its borders, but C. speleorex he is not one of them. The international team of scientists used DNA analysis to confirm that the centipede was indeed one that had not been seen before.
“Our results confirmed our doubts and revealed that the mobile centipede is morphologically and genetically different, suggesting that it evolved from its closest surface relative over millions of years into a completely new taxon.” , which is better suited to endless darkness, “say the researchers.
Exploring the cave. (Mihai Baciu, GESS LAB, Mangalia)
With about half the normal level of oxygen in the air and a large amount of hydrogen sulfide, methane, ammonia and carbon dioxide, trips to the Movile Cave should be short for researchers. It is also extremely humid in the cave.
Only a small number of researchers ever visit the underground network – it involves a 20-meter (66-foot) rope descent and then a lot of climbing through tight spaces to reach the central cave and swimming along the submerged canals to see something beyond.
However, the trip is worth it from a scientific point of view. Organisms that call the cave home can teach us a lot about how life survives in the harshest conditions, how it evolves in isolation, and even how it began on Earth to begin with.
For now, C. speleorex he is the king of the cave – but it may not be long before a larger creature is seen deep in the darkness.
After all, there is always a bigger centipede.
The research was published in ZooKeys.