A scaly-foot snail lives about two miles beneath the Indian Ocean at hydrothermal vents, where sulfur-rich, toxic fluids are released. The snail uses the vent chemistry to build an iron-containing shell while surviving in an environment once thought too hostile for life. In 2001 researchers confirmed the snails thriving among other vent organisms. The iron-rich shell supports detoxification rather than acting mainly as protective armor, helping remove toxins from the snail’s body. The snail also does not feed conventionally; it hosts bacteria that use vent chemicals to provide nutrients. The species was listed as endangered in 2019, with deep-sea mining posing a major threat to its vent habitat.
"This creature doesn't eat in a conventional sense. Instead, like other species that live on hydrothermal vents, the snail is home to bacteria that feast on hydrogen su"
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