Hyperthermophiles

Domain Archaea
Hyperthermophiles

A hydrothermal vent community home to hyperthermophiles, taken by the deep-sea submersible Alvin


Hyperthermophiles live in extremely hot or acidic water; some species can survive temperatures over 100 degrees Celsius. The famous hot springs in Yellowstone are home to this type of Archaea. They also live around deep-sea vents. Most hyperthermophiles are chemoautotrophs, meaning that they use chemicals found in the water leaving the vents to directly produce ATP. These hyperthermophiles often make the pools a greenish color due to their metabolic waste. They may also feed on dead organisms that have sunk from higher levels of the ocean.



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