Snottite
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Snottites or snotties are colonies of single-celled extremophilic bacteria that hang from the walls and ceilings of caves (similar to small stalactites, but with the consistency of "snot", or mucous). These organisms derive their energy through chemosynthesis of volcanic sulfur compounds and warm water solution dripping down from above. Because of this, they are highly acidic, some with the corrosive properties of battery acid.
Snottites were recently brought to attention by a researcher, Penny Boston, studying them (and other organisms) in a toxic sulfur cave called Cueva de Villa Luz (Cave of the Lighted House), in Tabasco, Mexico.
[edit] External link
|
Categories |
Acidophile • Alkaliphile • Barophile • Capnophile • Endolith • Halophile • Hyperthermophile • Hypolith • Lithoautotroph • Lithophile • Oligotroph • Osmophile • Piezophile • Polyextremophile • Psychrophile • Thermophile • Xerophile • |
|
Notable extremophiles |
Chloroflexus aurantiacus • Deinococcus radiodurans • Deinococcus-Thermus • Paralvinella sulfincola • Pompeii worm • Pyrococcus furiosus • Snottite • Strain 121 • Thermus aquaticus • Thermus thermophilus • |
|
Related articles |
Archaea • Abiogenic petroleum origin • Acidithiobacillales • Acidobacteria • Archaeoglobaceae • Berkeley Pit • Crenarchaeota • Grylloblattidae • Halobacteria • Halobacterium • Hydrothermal vent • Methanopyrus • Radioresistance • Thermostability • Thermotogae • |
 |
This bacteria-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
