Asia's longest cave has many wonders

Shuanghe Cave in Guizhou province - which was named the longest cave in Asia on Saturday - houses a trove of wonders, including a lizardlike endangered species, 10 centimeters long, and fossils of vertebrates such as giant pandas and what appear to be rhinoceros, saber-tooth tiger and elephant remains.

The slithery lizard, which was found in an underground river in a major branch of the cave, appears similar to a giant salamander. A full definition of the new species will require further research by scientists.

Unlike scientific surveys on the surface, a cave can retain traces of a place for a long time, including its ancient geology, meteorology, paleontology and even hydrology, said Li Po, chief engineer of the Guizhou Academy of Sciences' Mountain Resource Research Institute.