The discovery of tiny, cave-dwelling animals measuring just 4mm in length has halted plans to develop a $10bn (£5bn) mine in Western Australia.
Environmental protection officials rejected the iron ore mine proposal from mining giant Rio Tinto when 11 species of troglobite were discovered.
The troglobites are tiny cave-dwelling creatures which resemble spiders.
They feed on organic matter deep underground and will die if exposed to ultraviolet light outside their caves.
The chairman of Western Australia's Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), Wally Cox, said the proposed mine would cause the extinction of at least five of the newly-discovered species.
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