Unique Underground Ecosystem: Eight Previously Unknown Species [Hebrew Univ]

Hebrew University of Jerusalem ^ | 31 May 2006 | Staff (press release)

[PatrickHenry]

Everybody be nice.

[DustyMoment]

Is this about Democrats?

[PatrickHenry]

Evolution Ping The List-O-Links

A conservative, pro-evolution science list, now with over 370 names. See the list's explanation, then FReepmail to be added or dropped. To assist beginners: But it's "just a theory", Evo-Troll's Toolkit, and How to argue against a scientific theory.

[JAWs]

Dr. Dimentman is certain that live scorpions will be discovered in further explorations...

Now THAT'S an inducement.

[tophat9000]

Is this about Democrats?

Subterranean subspecies?...sure

[VadeRetro]

A cave crawdad.

[caver]

Already posted here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1641160/posts

[ZULU]

"..four seawater and freshwater crustaceans "

How do they taste?

[C210N]

No, sorry to dissapoing you, its not about Democrats.

OTOH, undisturbed for these millions of years, were found neat stockpiles of rocks and stones. On the walls are faint drawings showing the way these creatures held and hurled these stones. Scientists are unclear if these creatures are the forebears of modern day subspecies.

[PatrickHenry]

Already posted here:

I donno how I missed that one. Well, mine is the original press release from the Hebrew University webstie, and this way the creationists can have their own thread.

[MeanWestTexan]

"Now THAT'S an inducement."

Not to mention whatever EATS said live scorpians, which is also predicted.

[MeanWestTexan]

Seems the default coloration when coloration is not an evolutionary advantage (like in a pitch black cave) is icky, pasty, white.

I wonder if coloration is "expensive" evolutionarily.

Or maybe they just need a tan and would turn whatever color if exposed to a little UV.

[Vaquero]

Cave dweller eh? must have been in the Gollum heights??

Mines a tale that cant be told, My freedom I hold dear; How years ago in days of old When magic filled the air, Twas in the darkest depths of mordor I met a girl so fair, But gollum, and the evil one crept up And slipped away with her. Her, her....yea. Aint nothing I can do, no.

[PatrickHenry]

I wonder if coloration is "expensive" evolutionarily.

Interesting question. I'm guessing that color comes from a variety of mutations, and if they confer no advantage, the originals won't be selected out, nor will the colorful specimens be out-reproducing their pale relatives.

[VadeRetro]

I think the point of losing pigment is just that there's no penalty in failing to keep it. For most animals, if you subtract pigmentation evolved for camouflage, display, or whatever, the base material is some kind of pale greyish translucent protien, maybe pinked up with a little blood supply showing through.

[VadeRetro]

Someday I will learn to spell "protein." E before i if you don't want to sigh!

[caver]

I think the titles are a bit different.

[Liberal Classic]

Besides the mention of millions of years, which is standard issue for a lot of science press releases...

Well, duh!