foot common foot species deep sea vent marine family vent endemic known deep sea indian_ocean found depths differs greatly deep sea closely related shell unique construction layers outer layer consists iron middle layer equivalent organic found layer foot unusual armored iron houses appears obtain species considered peculiar deep sea vent known extant animal incorporates iron skeleton shell heart speaking unusually large animal heart comprises approximately body volume taxonomy species discovered april referred foot terms scientific referred formally described sense international code nomenclature named type specimens stored london time incorrect spelling variant type species sole species genus generic ancient greek language means golden haired compound occurring shell golden color specific latin language means scale bearing known family species belonged classified species family molecular analyses based sequences genes confirmed placement species dark locality white section explanation different colored appear simply varieties species according results genetic analysis distribution foot vent endemic known deep sea indian_ocean metres depth species discovered living bases black vent field north triple point species subsequently found field central indian ridge mauritius aka dragon field southwest indian ridge field designated type locality type material originated vent field distance distance mainly know live vent fields occurrence foot indian_ocean suggests relationship vent areas research expeditions included expedition ship discovered vent field foot found time vent field discovered indian_ocean expedition research vessel discovered foot vent field expedition discovered vent field expedition discovered field sampled foot expedition visually observed foot vent field expedition sampled vent field description species sides foot extremely unusual armoured hundreds iron composed iron soft tissue core cover layer containing prior discovery foot thought extant possessing scale like structures classes foot found potentially analogous recently detailed morphological analysis testing hypothesis carried mainly complex protein contrast mainly visible growth lines cross sections extant extinct possess dermal extant animal known use iron way skeleton size adults population white instead black lack iron overlapped manner reminiscent roof tiles purpose speculated protection help protect vent fluid bacteria live close source electron donors alternatively result deposition toxic waste represent novel solution true function unknown population layer iron surprisingly non iron showed greater mechanical strength structure point bending stress test life external surfaces host diverse array bacteria probably provide organic compounds facilitate attachment bacteria shell shell species shape shell compressed shell sculpture consists ribs fine growth lines shape elliptical apex shell fragile adults large compared majority species usually millimetres shell length width shell maximum shell reaches millimetres average shell adult average shell width population slightly population height shell width height shell unusual shell structure consists layers outer layer thick black iron containing feature makes extant animal known far employs material skeleton middle layer equivalent organic found thick brown layer thick form calcium commonly found shells color layer white shell layer appears contribute effectiveness defence different ways middle organic layer appears absorb mechanical strain energy generated attack example claws crab making shell tougher organic layer acts dissipate heat features composite material focus researchers possible use civilian military protective applications species shape changes growth rounded shape juveniles curved shape adults relative size decreases individuals grow half adult species possess rear animal likely gradually grow fully cover foot protection loses protective function animal grows external anatomy foot thick snout blunt end mouth circular ring muscles contracted closed smooth thick base gradually fine point tips eyes specialised foot red large withdraw foot entirely shell pedal foot internal anatomy soft parts animal occupy approximately interior shell shell muscle shaped large divided parts left right connected narrower attachment mantle edge thick simple distinctive features mantle cavity deep reaches posterior edge shell left cavity dominated large ventral mass body cavity occupied huge extends fill ventral floor mantle cavity digestive system simple reduced typical volume weak type single pair formula ribbon long wide width length ratio approximately jaw anterior rapidly expands huge blind ended occupies ventral face mantle cavity estimated body volume uniform texture highly fine blood vessels stomach anterior right connecting digestive consolidated stomach probably produced way hydrogen reduced single loop extensive digestive extends posterior filling shell apex shell penetrate heart passes ventral located right opening system central tending right body thin dark layer tissue anterior ventral digestive contact dorsal respiratory system system consist single left gill large body volume supported extensive blood filled blood material prominent feature body cavity thin gill extends far heart upper shell larger species similar shell shape general form proportional size largest gill genera investigated far provides oxygen system enlarged scope similar vent gill gill probably facilitate oxygen low oxygen conditions typical vent ecosystems posterior remarkably large developed heart heart unusually large animal based volume single heart complex represents approximately body volume example heart humans body volume giant heart primarily blood supplies highly housed isolated vent fluid host likely play major role supplying necessary chemicals leading increased respiratory needs detailed investigation reveal information respiratory foot hosts enlarged appears rely nutrition species size orders magnitude larger usual size significant blood pressure likely decreases zero elaborate system likely evolved oxygen poor environment supply hydrogen set genes required probably capable switching efficient efficient depending oxygen availability foot complete known previously thought species enlarged later discovered species enlarged nervous system large brain solid mass nervous system reduced complexity enlarged size compared taxa typical nervous system composed anterior nerve ring pairs longitudinal nerve ventral pair foot dorsal pair forming twist frontal nerve ring large connecting lateral huge fused mass directly adjacent passes bacteria housed large nerves projecting sensory organs foot include surrounded single sensory tip gill known present present reproductive system unusual features adult inside shell head foot region right body adults possess different levels development placed placed lies packaging organ initially separate apparently fuse single emerge single opening right mantle cavity animal organ derived strategy housing catalyst innovations serve primarily improve fitness bacteria needs great protective dermal highly enlarged respiratory systems high considered adaptations beneficial adaptations appear result resolve energetic needs extreme environment ecology habitat species inhabits vent fields indian_ocean lives adjacent acidic reducing vent fluid walls black chimneys directly flow sites depth field varies dimensions approximately slope field substrate rock depleted mid ocean ridge field foot live low temperature single chimney transitional zone found width temperature preferred water temperature species live environment high concentrations hydrogen low concentrations oxygen abundance foot lower field field vent community consists taxa including sea crustaceans genus unidentified unidentified foot live colonies colonies field depth dimensions approximately substrate rock enriched mid ocean ridge foot live near high temperature chimneys vent field abundance foot lower field vent community comprises taxa including sea crustaceans type genus fish genus unidentified unidentified vent field depth densely populated areas immediately surrounding flow vent community include sea usually dominant vent fields recorded vent field feeding habits foot probably filter nutrition foot entire post life probably depends bacteria provide nutrition currently unclear species uses mechanisms feeding example known uses eating normal food identification interactions habitat direct observation feeding habits complicated measured carbon nitrogen stable compositions depleted values relatively derived organic carbon presumed source carbon origin stable carbon confirmed life cycle simultaneous species family far known simultaneous high lays eggs probably type eggs foot negative atmospheric pressure larvae known thought species dispersal stage smallest juvenile specimens collected shell length results statistical analyses revealed genetic populations fields suggesting potential vent fields population represents potential source population populations difficult alive artificial environment survived atmospheric pressure weeks
Scaly-foot gastropod