How a deep-sea snail turns poisonous sulfur into iron armor
In short: Deep in the Indian Ocean, the scaly-foot snail survives extreme conditions by converting toxic sulfur into iron-rich scales. This video explores how this unique gastropod builds its metal-like shell and why it is now an endangered species.
While scientists once thought the intense pressure and toxic compounds of these vents were incompatible with life, researchers discovered these snails living happily among other creatures in 2001.
The snail's iron-rich shell is a vital survival strategy. Expert Chong Chen suggests the shell may function similarly to a human liver by helping to remove toxins from the snail's body. Despite this resilience, the species was the first hydrothermal vent animal added to the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species in 2019, due to the threat of deep-sea mining.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: The Indestructible Deep Sea Snail
- Also: To celebrate Endangered Species Day, meet the scaly-foot snail, the most metal animal in the world
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