The Volcano Snail
In the depths of the Indian Ocean, where sea water is heated by underlying magma reaching 750 degree Fahrenheit or more, a snail wanders around in its shell made of iron. This is the scaly-foot snail, also known as the Volcano snail, and it’s perhaps one of the most absurd creatures in the world.
First discovered in 2001, the Volcano snail is endemic to three known hydrothermal vent fields along the deep-sea ridges in the Indian Ocean. Down there, magma is pouring out from under the ground and bringing toxins with it, leaving almost no room for oxygen. This is an extremely tough environment, which is why the Volcanic snail has evolved amazing features to adapt and thrive.
There's no food since it's three kilometers below the surface, which is why the snail has evolved to live primarily on bacteria, meaning that the snail isn’t eating food but instead relying on microbes for sustenance.
The snail has evolved a special gut where bacteria live and produce food. They break down the chemicals that leak from the volcanic vents, creating food in the process. Besides food, these bacteria also help keep the snail alive in extremely hot conditions
The Volcano snail draws iron sulphide from its environment to develop a suit of armour to protect its soft parts. It’s the only known organism to incorporate metals into its skeleton, both into its shell and into the hundreds of external scales. Another cool fact about the Volcano snail is its big heart, which is approximately four percent of its body volume. This makes it the largest heart relative to body size in the entire animal kingdom, helping the snail to live in an oxygen-lacking environment. Thus, scientists have associated the snail with a big-hearted knight in shining armour.
Sadly, the Volcano snail is on the verge of extinction. In 2019, it was listed as endangered. Their existence is continuously under threat due to deep-sea mining operations interfering with their habitat.
