Hydrothermal vents in the deep ocean are located at tectonic spreading
ridges. While most of the water in the deep ocean is close to freezing,
the water at hydrothermal vents is very hot and laden with chemicals. In
this extreme
environment, certain species of Archaea
and Eubacteria
thrive, enabling a unique food
chain including fish, shrimp, giant tubeworms, mussels, crabs, and clams.
Courtesy of NASA