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MUFONET-BBS NETWORK - MUTUAL UFO NETWORK ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ SCIENCE NEWS - WIRE ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ кФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФФП Г=START= XMT: 06:11 Mon Aug 05 EXP: 06:00 Mon Aug 12 Г Г Г ГRARE, BLIND TROGLODYTE SPIDER FOUND IN AUSTRALIAN DESERT Г Г Г ГSYDNEY (AUG. 5) - A blind, troglodyte spider long believed Г Гextinct has been found alive and thriving under the Г ГNullarbor Plains desert in South Australia, the Australian Г ГMuseum announced Monday. Г Г Г ГA relative of the trap-door spider, it is known as Г ГTroglodiplura lowryi, who was forced underground millions ofГ Гyears ago when Australia's climate dried up, the museum's Г Гhead of arachnology Michael Gray said. Г Г Г ГFurthermore, Troglodiplura is one of only three blind, Г Гunderground dwelling spider species in the world, the Г Гexperts believe. Г Г Г ГGray said he found eight juveniles of the rare spiders in a Г Гcave under the Nullarbor on a desert expedition last month. Г Г Г ГAnd because eight spiders were found in only two days, thereГ Гwas likely to be a colony, he said. Г Г Г ГA preserved Troglodiplura was first found more than 20 yearsГ Гago, but after repeated unsuccessful searches throughout theГ ГNullarbor, scientists declared the spider extinct. Г Г Г ГGray said there is a great deal of life under the Nullarbor Г Гthat could not be seen because of cave-ins and collapses Г Гthat prevented people from entering the caves. Г Г Г Г"Insects can get in, however, and that's what these spiders Г Гfeed on," he said. Г Г Г Г"The spiders have adapted to sensing prey from a distance byГ Гmonitoring local air currents and vibrations of insects. Г Г Г Г"The spiders were forced into caves millions of years ago Г Гwhen Australia's climate dried up," Gray said. Г Г Г Г"A lot of species were forced underground, but only only 12 Г Гhave survived to become troglodytes." Г Г Г ГAnimals forced underground had to evolve and adapt to their Г Гsurroundings, genetically reorganising their entire make-up,Г Гhe said. "They lose their sight, develop pigmentation and Г Гtheir limbs lengthen with cave adaptation." Г Г Г ГThe young spiders will be kept alive for as long as Г Гpossible, so they can be used for examination and breeding, Г ГGray said. Г Г Г Г=END= Г