The Scaly-foot snail (Chrysomallon squamiferum) is one of the most extraordinary deep-sea creatures known to science.
It lives in extreme environments near hydrothermal vents, specifically in the Indian Ocean, where temperatures can approach 400°C (750°F).
What sets this snail apart is its triple-layered shell, which includes:
1. An outer layer of iron sulfide, making it the only known animal to incorporate iron into its skeleton.
2. A middle layer of organic material, acting as a shock absorber.
3. An inner aragonite layer, a typical component in many mollusk shells.
Its scales (or "sclerites"), which also contain iron sulfide, cover its foot—hence the name "scaly-foot"—and may protect it from predators like venomous snails or extreme heat.
This armor-like adaptation helps the snail survive in an environment with high pressure, toxic chemicals, and temperatures that would kill most life forms.
Scientists believe the snail’s shell design could inspire future materials for defense or engineering, due to its resistance to mechanical and thermal stress.
The Scaly-foot snail has also been recognized as endangered by the IUCN because of the increasing threat of deep-sea mining in its limited habitat.
The Scaly-foot snail (Chrysomallon squamiferum) is one of the most extraordinary deep-sea creatures known to science.
It lives in extreme environments near hydrothermal vents, specifically in the Indian Ocean, where temperatures can approach 400°C (750°F).
What sets this snail apart is its triple-layered shell, which includes:
1. An outer layer of iron sulfide, making it the only known animal to incorporate iron into its skeleton.
2. A middle layer of organic material, acting as a shock absorber.
3. An inner aragonite layer, a typical component in many mollusk shells.
Its scales (or "sclerites"), which also contain iron sulfide, cover its foot—hence the name "scaly-foot"—and may protect it from predators like venomous snails or extreme heat.
This armor-like adaptation helps the snail survive in an environment with high pressure, toxic chemicals, and temperatures that would kill most life forms.
Scientists believe the snail’s shell design could inspire future materials for defense or engineering, due to its resistance to mechanical and thermal stress.
The Scaly-foot snail has also been recognized as endangered by the IUCN because of the increasing threat of deep-sea mining in its limited habitat.
