In Photos: Wild Creatures Inhabit Undersea Vent

Undersea habitats

"Tiamat," a relatively cool diffuse flow chimney in Longqi vent field. Like Knucker's Gaff, the chimney rises more than 49 feet (15 meters) from the seafloor. Among the animals making their homes here were the scaly-foot gastropod Chysomallon squamiferum and the new snail species Gigantopelta aegis.

[Read full story on the deep-sea vent]

Crabs, snails — sea life

Snails and hairy-chested "Hoff crabs" huddle up in the Longqi vent field, fighting for access to the warm, mineral-rich waters. Hoff crabs grow bacteria on their hairy arms and chests and then consume this bacteria, an adaptation to help them survive their deep-sea lifestyle.