MELBOURNE: A secret world of animals and plants - including unknown species - may be thriving in warm caves under Antarctica's glaciers, scientists said on Friday.
The study led by Australian National University (ANU) found that around Mount Erebus, an active volcano on Ross Island in Antarctica, steam has hollowed out extensive cave systems. Forensic analyses of soil samples from these caves have revealed intriguing traces of DNA from algae, mosses and small animals, researchers said.
"It can be really warm inside the caves - up to 25 degrees Celsius in some caves. You could wear a t-shirt in there and be pretty comfortable," said Ceridwen Fraser from the ANU Fenner School of Environment and Society.
"There is a light near the cave mouths, and light filters deeper into some caves where the overlying ice is thin," said lead researcher.