A closer look

You’d think the crushing pressure and scalding heat of deep-sea hydrothermal vents would be enough to deter life, but the scaly-foot snail decided to thrive by wearing medieval armor. It absorbs toxic iron sulfides spewing from the volcanic vents and metabolizes them into a multi-layered, armor-plated shell and metallic scales covering its foot. It is the only known animal on the planet to actively use iron to build its skeleton.