Microorganisms Taxonomy Habitat Fungi Viruses Bacteria What are
thermophiles?  Thermophiles are microorganisms that live and
grow in extremely hot environments that would kill most other
microorganisms. Thermophiles are grouped into either prokaryotes
or eukaryotes, and these two groups of extremophiles are
classified in the group of archaea. They grow best in
temperatures that are between 50C/120F- 70C/158F. They will not
grow if the temperature reaches 20C/68F. Thermophiles are not
easy to study because the extreme conditions that they need to
survive are hard to provide in a laboratory.  Thermophiles
either live in geothermal habitats, or they live in environments
that create heat themselves. A pile of compost and garbage
landfills are two examples of environments that produce heat on
their own.  Some thermophiles like, Chaetomium thermophile,
Humicola insolens, Humicola (Thermomyces) lanuginosus ,
Thermoascus aurantiacus, a Paecilomyces-like fungus and
Aspergillus fumigatus are microorganisms called fungi