5/31/2006: New species found

Undertoad · 05-31-2006, 02:21 PM

First posted on the Cellar by elspode, thanks spode!

Picture this: a team is digging in a rock quarry in the middle of Israel, drilling into a kind of chalk that's impervious to water. Maybe they're trying to figure out what's down there, what kind of resources are available in the quarry. 100 meters down, they reach a layer of... nothing.

It's a cave. And it's massive: 2.5 kilometers long, 100 meters deep. With a huge lake - expected, because the cave happened when the water eroded away limestone between layers of chalk where the water didn't erode.

And it's been completely sealed off from the outside world... for ages and ages... perhaps millions of years... until the drill went through its roof.

Found so far are eight new, previously unknown species of beast, including the scorpion-like being.

Who knows how this species first got into this little, cut-off system. Perhaps there was a time, 100,000 years ago, when the cave was closer to ground and a nest of burrowing scorpions dug into the cave. But during its time there, it has gone through evolutionary changes. Since there's never been light in the cave, it's blind, and it has little to no coloration.

Maybe there are scary bacteria bacteria that can kill us! But maybe they'd be killed by sunlight. Who knows, but it makes me want to be a spelunking evolutionary zoologist/bacteriologist. Or maybe not.

Trilby · 05-31-2006, 02:27 PM

How come when they go finding new species it's never a unicorn or pegasus-like creature, but a gross, yucky thing like that?

Happy Monkey · 05-31-2006, 02:33 PM

I suspect it would be more likely that the drill let in the scary bacteria to kill them. Larger ecosystems breed scarier critters, in general.

Kitsune · 05-31-2006, 03:09 PM

I hope they're tasty with butter.

MaggieL · 05-31-2006, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

How come when they go finding new species it's never a unicorn or pegasus-like creature, but a gross, yucky thing like that?

I guess horses with aftermarket mods just don't survive for some reason.

Undertoad · 05-31-2006, 03:40 PM

Because they evolve in the dark, acidic hell-holes of the real world, instead of the glorious fantasy world that only exists in your imagination.

glatt · 05-31-2006, 03:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kitsune

I hope they're tasty with butter.

It always gets back to the food.

Pancake Man · 05-31-2006, 03:55 PM

Always glatt. Always.

I love this kind of thing. Means that we are a few steps away from something huge. If you can find eight new species digging in a quarry, well, there is a quarry down the street....

MaggieL · 05-31-2006, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Undertoad

Because they evolve in the dark, acidic hell-holes of the real world, instead of the glorious fantasy world that only exists in your imagination.

Fundamentally, though we try to ignore the fact most of the time, life is inherently yucky.

Anybody who's been present at a birthing or an autopsy has seen evidence of this.

LabRat · 05-31-2006, 04:06 PM

Wonder what would be discovered here?

milkfish · 05-31-2006, 04:32 PM

Whatever it is, it ain't kosher.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

How come when they go finding new species it's never a unicorn or pegasus-like creature, but a gross, yucky thing like that?

Funny, that's also what the scorpion-lobster thing said to itself when the first human explorer showed up.

MaggieL · 05-31-2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brianna

How come when they go finding new species it's...[a]...gross, yucky thing like that?

Because They're Made Out Of Meat.

gerstle · 05-31-2006, 04:41 PM

in related news...

we have successfully wiped out 7... no, wait... there it is, make that 8 new species within 36 hours of their discovery. It's a new world record folks!

xoxoxoBruce · 05-31-2006, 05:04 PM

Why? Were they Palestinian critters?

Tse Moana · 05-31-2006, 06:27 PM

This so tickles my archaeology bone, it makes me want to take the first flight to Israel and go look myself.

05-31-2006, 02:21 PM	#1
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	5/31/2006: New species found First posted on the Cellar by elspode, thanks spode! Picture this: a team is digging in a rock quarry in the middle of Israel, drilling into a kind of chalk that's impervious to water. Maybe they're trying to figure out what's down there, what kind of resources are available in the quarry. 100 meters down, they reach a layer of... nothing. It's a cave. And it's massive: 2.5 kilometers long, 100 meters deep. With a huge lake - expected, because the cave happened when the water eroded away limestone between layers of chalk where the water didn't erode. And it's been completely sealed off from the outside world... for ages and ages... perhaps millions of years... until the drill went through its roof. Found so far are eight new, previously unknown species of beast, including the scorpion-like being. Who knows how this species first got into this little, cut-off system. Perhaps there was a time, 100,000 years ago, when the cave was closer to ground and a nest of burrowing scorpions dug into the cave. But during its time there, it has gone through evolutionary changes. Since there's never been light in the cave, it's blind, and it has little to no coloration. Maybe there are scary bacteria bacteria that can kill us! But maybe they'd be killed by sunlight. Who knows, but it makes me want to be a spelunking evolutionary zoologist/bacteriologist. Or maybe not.

05-31-2006, 02:27 PM	#2
Trilby Slattern of the Swail Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 15,654	How come when they go finding new species it's never a unicorn or pegasus-like creature, but a gross, yucky thing like that? __________________ In Barrie's play and novel, the roles of fairies are brief: they are allies to the Lost Boys, the source of fairy dust and ...They are portrayed as dangerous, whimsical and extremely clever but quite hedonistic. "Shall I give you a kiss?" Peter asked and, jerking an acorn button off his coat, solemnly presented it to her. —James Barrie Wimminfolk they be tricksy. - ZenGum

05-31-2006, 02:33 PM	#3
Happy Monkey I think this line's mostly filler. Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: DC Posts: 13,575	I suspect it would be more likely that the drill let in the scary bacteria to kill them. Larger ecosystems breed scarier critters, in general. __________________ _________________ \|...............\| We live in the nick of times. \| Len 17, Wid 3 \| \|_______________\| [pics]

05-31-2006, 03:55 PM	#8
Pancake Man Hand-of-Kindness Extender Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 131	Always glatt. Always. I love this kind of thing. Means that we are a few steps away from something huge. If you can find eight new species digging in a quarry, well, there is a quarry down the street.... __________________ Abandon all hope, o ye who read my posts

05-31-2006, 04:06 PM	#10
LabRat twatfaced two legged bumhole Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3,143	Wonder what would be discovered here? __________________ Strength does not come from how much weight you can lift, or how many miles you can run. It comes from knowing that you set a goal, and rose to the challenge. Strength comes from within.

05-31-2006, 03:09 PM	#4
Kitsune still eats dirt Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 3,031	I hope they're tasty with butter.

05-31-2006, 03:40 PM	#6
Undertoad Radical Centrist Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Cottage of Prussia Posts: 31,423	Because they evolve in the dark, acidic hell-holes of the real world, instead of the glorious fantasy world that only exists in your imagination.

05-31-2006, 04:41 PM	#13
gerstle some guy. Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 21	in related news... we have successfully wiped out 7... no, wait... there it is, make that 8 new species within 36 hours of their discovery. It's a new world record folks!

05-31-2006, 05:04 PM	#14
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	Why? Were they Palestinian critters? __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

05-31-2006, 06:27 PM	#15
Tse Moana You're just jealous 'cause the little voices talk to me Join Date: May 2006 Location: Netherlands Posts: 203	This so tickles my archaeology bone, it makes me want to take the first flight to Israel and go look myself.

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