Scientists have for the first time ever discovered animal life beneath the seafloor at a depth of 2,500m. Scientists used to believe that the dark under seafloor environment was unfit for life to thrive, until they discovered tiny microbes thriving there. But this new study found there were even larger creatures like tube worms and snails living under the Earth’s crust within hydrothermal vents.
This discovery shows that underground habitats have a big population of undiscovered species. It is believed that these organisms live on nutrients produced when the seawater mixes with magma (hot liquid rock). This discovery was made by the researchers from the Royal Netherlands Institute for Sea Research with the help of a remotely controlled robot, while they examined rock samples on the seafloor in the Pacific Ocean.
What are hydrothermal vents?
According to National Geographic, hydrothermal vents are openings in the seafloor where the Earth’s tectonic plates meet, and seawater mixes with magma from below the Earth’s crust.
Did You Know?
Only 26% of the Earth’s seabed has been explored and mapped.
