Dear cryptofolk,
It being nearly Christmas I thought I`d introduce an item from Israel, namely the new fauna, both (possibly) extinct and still living in the Ayalon Cave, on Israel`s coastal plain near Ramle, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. This unique ecosystem was discovered in about April 2006. Another interesting occurence was the sighting of a 'mermaid' in the eastern Mediterranean off Israel`s coast in or very near August 2009.
A Department of Media Relations (part of The Hebrew University of Jerusalem) website press release titled 'Unique Underground Ecosystem Revealed by Hebrew University Researchers Uncovers Eight Previously Unknown Species' gives the following information:
'Discovery of eight previously unknown, ancient animal species within a new and unique underground ecosystem in Israel was revealed today by Hebrew University of Jerusalem researchers.
'In a press conference on the Mt. Scopus campus of the Hebrew University, the researchers said the discovery came about when a small opening was found, leading to a cave extending to a depth of 100 meters [sic] beneath the surface of a quarry in the vicinity of Ramle, between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv. The quarry is operated by cement manufacturer Nesher Industries...
'The invertebrate animals found in the cave-four seawater and freshwater crustaceans and four terrestial species-are realted to but different from other, similar life forms known to scientists. The species have been sent to biological experts in both Israel and abroad for further analysis and dating. It is estimated that these species are millions of years old. Also found in the cave were bacteria that serve as the basic food source in the ecosystem...
'The animals found there were all discovered live, except for a blind species of scorpion, although Dr Dimentman is certain that live scorpions will be discovered in further explorations and also probably an animal or animals which feed on the scorpions...
[Dr Dimentman was part of the team from the Hebrew University Alexander Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, which discovered the fauna]
'Among the interesting features of the discoveries thus far in the cave is that two of the crustaceans are seawater species and two others are of types found in fresh or brackish water. This can provide insights into events occuring millions of years ago regarding the history of ancient bodies of water in the region.' (1)
I have a paper from 2007 that gives more information on the troglobite scorpion. Most of it is too technical for me to understand so I just quote from the Abstract and Introduction:
'Abstract. A new eyeless troglobite scorpion, Akrav israchanani n.sp., is described from inside karstic voids in Israel that form a completely isolated,old ecosystem with living populations of blind crustaceans and pseudoscorpions. The scorpions, of which no live specimen has yet been collected, prove to differ from all other scorpions and are placed in a new family, Akravidae. The possibility is addressed that the subterranean Akravidae are a relict of an old circum-tropical pattern of distribution that differs from the present temperate location of Israel.'
According to the Introduction: 'No live scorpions have as yet been detected, only their empty carcasses. These desiccated but not fossilized [sic] cuticular remains which retain their bright fluorescence under UV light were found firmly attached to rocks at various levels corresponding to the levels attained by the rise and fall of the underground water inside the voids. No traces of any of the scorpions`prey animals have yet been found. Could their disappearance have caused the presumed extinction of the scorpions?' (2)
On December 15th 2009 I received the following e-mail from Prof. Amos Frumkin of the Geography Department at The Hebrew University:
'Dear Richard, We`re still working on the Ayalon Cave... No new discoveries of animals been made since 2006. Lots of other new caves been discovered elsewhere in Israel since the Ayalon caves were discovered, albeit not with new fauna. I don`t know of any organization [sic] in Israel that keep records of any new animal species that are discovered in Israel since 1948, cheers amos. '(3)
That`s all for now. See you tomorrow. And we have lyrics!
1. Dept.of Media Relations.The Hebrew University of Jerusalem press release.http://www.huji.ac.il/cgi-bin/dovrut_search_eng.pl?mesge114907691205976587
2. G.Levy.The first triolobite scorpion from Israel and a new chactoid family (Arachnida:Scorpiones)Zoology in the Middle East 40,2007:p.91
3. E-mail from Prof.Amos Frumkin. Dec.15th 2009.
The B52s-Give Me Back My Man
She cuts her hair and calls his name
Wishin` everything could be the same
like when she had him
I`ll give you fish,I`ll give you candy
I`ll give you everything I have in my
head
Walking out of Korvettes,package in her hand.
Motions to all the seabirds,throws divinity on the sand
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