The scaly-foot gastropod is an incredible deep sea snail that lives in hydrothermal vents, a harsh environment that subjects it to high pressure, extreme temperatures, and high acidity levels. They are the only known animals to incorporate iron sulfides into their bodies, and their unique shells have three layers to sustain them against threats such as a dissolving shell or being hunted by crabs. The outermost shell layer is made of iron sulfides to protect them from the extreme heat of the vent environment. The thick middle layer is organic, and the innermost layer is made of a type of calcium carbonate that is common in the shells of mollusks and corals. Each shell layer forms another wall of defense, and the middle layer is especially effective in absorbing mechanical strains as a result of a squeezing attack by an aggressor, such as a crab.

Not only do these scaly-foot gastropods have unique shells, but they can also create metal shields in the form of iron-mineral scales around their feet. This type of mollusk was recently discovered in 2001 in the Kairei hydrothermal vent field in the Indian Ocean, and it is the first snail to take such measures to protect itself. In fact, the scaly-foot gastropod’s body is so heavily armored that the United States military is currently researching the snail’s defensive layers to try to incorporate them into improved military armor designs. Other applications of this discovery include the development of scratch-free paint.

Another interesting tidbit that scientists discovered when they found the scaly-foot gastropod was that these animals have numerous symbiotic bacteria living all throughout their bodies. This is significant because these bacteria typically only live in the gills of animals they inhabit. The scaly-foot gastropod is difficult to keep alive when studied outside of its home, so for now scientists will have to settle with observing them in their natural habitat or examining non-living specimens.

Images via featuredcreature.com, deepseanews.com