Chrysomallon squamiferum — better known as the volcano snail, iron snail or scaly-foot snail — is a species of snail that lives in hydrothermal vents in the Indian Ocean. Hydrothermal vents are openings in the seafloor from which geothermally heated water escapes. They form in volcanically active areas like mid-ocean ridges where tectonic plates spread apart. Amazingly, these volcano snails embrace heat like few other species can, withstanding temperatures of up to 400 degrees Celsius!

Volcano snails are one of many deep-sea gastropods, but they are distinguished by their ability to sequester iron metal ions from water to form iron-sulfide coatings on their shells, bodies and feet. They’re the only existent creature we know of to incorporate these substances into their skeleton. Depending on the ratio of iron, sulfide, pyrite and gregite in the vent water, volcano snails can range in color from white to gold to black. I guess you could call these one-of-a-kind creatures the “ironmen” of the sea!