A centipede | Image | Patrick Landmann/SPL
A cave that was sealed off from the rest of the world for 5.5 million years and has only been seen by less than 100 people is home to some of the most extraordinary creatures you will ever see.
Movile Cave in Romania was first discovered in 1986 when workers scouting locations for a nuclear power plant stumbled across it, according to the BBC.
The cave – which is extremely difficult to access and requires special permission – contains half the usual amount of oxygen and is high in carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Scientists also estimate that it hasn’t seen sunlight for at least 5.5 million years.
Yet despite these conditions, scientists have so far discovered 48 different species, including 33 that are only found in Movile Cave.
The animals include spiders, water scorpions, pseudoscorpions, centipedes, leeches, and isopods.
PHOTOS HERE:
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Images
Cave woodlouse | Image | Patrick Landmann/SPL
Centipede | Image | Patrick Landmann/SPL
Pair of waterscorpions | Image | Thierry Berrod, Mona Lisa Production/SPL
Leech | Image | Thierry Berrod, Mona Lisa Production/SPL
Pseudoscorpion | Image | Thierry Berrod, Mona Lisa Production/SPL
Waterscorpion | Image | Thierry Berrod, Mona Lisa Production/SPL
Waterscorpion attacks prey | Image | Patrick Landmann/SPL
Cave woodlouse | Image | Patrick Landmann/SPL
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