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An Australian deal to launch Russian satellites from Christmas Island in the
Indian Ocean is threatening unique underground species. Biologists say the
launch site is right over an unexplored cave system. Twelve new underground
species have already turned up in other caves on the island. They include blind
cockroaches, a blind scorpion, primitive shrimp, spiders and silverfish. “We are
finding an extraordinary range of new creatures. Undoubtedly, further
exploration will find more,” says Bill Humphries, an expert on subterranean
fauna from the Western Australian University in Perth.