New Beetle Discovered in World's Deepest Cave

Researchers have discovered a new species of cave beetle, one of the few species known to be inhabiting largely unexplored deep subterranean environments.

According to a study published in the peer-reviewed journal Zootaxa, the newly discovered cave beetle was found in the Krubera cave, situated in the Arabika massif in the Western Caucasus of Southern Russia.

The Krubera cave is the deepest cave known to man, reaching a measured 2,140 meters (~7021 feet) deep.

Researcher Ana Sofía Reboleira noted in a press release that these new beetles, called Duvalius abyssimus, were not found at the deepest point in the cave, as deeper subterranean environments become increasingly difficult to reach - requiring expert diving techniques to pass flooded chambers.

Still, the very presence of this beetle is interesting to Reboleira's research team, who explain that past research has found the remarkable cave to be inhabited by "fauna of European, Asian and also endemic origin."

"The discovery of the new beetle provides important data on species that co-exist in these almost unknown ecosystems, even more so when they are found in a geographical area that is very difficult to access, such is the case with this cave," added co-author Vicente M. Ortuño.

The researchers were also excited to determine that these insects still had functioning eyes - indicating that they are only moderately adapted for subterranean life and may also be found closer to the surface where there is visible light. The insects might even be relatively new additions to the Krubera cave ecosystem, they speculate.

More specialized species of fish and insects have radically adapted to subterranean life where useless traits - like functioning eyes and pigment - might naturally get bred out of a species after thousands upon thousands of generations of mutation.