Six Remarkable Species That Call Volcanoes Home

Volcanoes are a risky place to call home. Humankind has daringly settled near many of these explosive environments. So have some incredible animals that don’t merely survive, but thrive. From birds to shrimp, these animals are among the most resilient wildlife in the world. Believe it or not, there are actually animals that live inside volcanoes! Let’s take a look at six species that call volcanoes home sweet home.

#6 Silky Sharks

Silky sharks are typically found in the tropical and subtropical waters of the South Pacific. During an expedition in 2015, National Geographic found these sharks inside the Kavachi volcano caldera. The water should be too hot and acidic for any animal to thrive, let alone large animals like sharks. However, researchers believe the silky shark has been able to adapt to the unpredictable oxygen and CO₂ conditions found in these waters.

The Kavachi volcano is near deepwater reefs and continental shelves that are the silky shark’s preferred habitats. These areas have a wide variety of species that make up the silky shark’s diet. So despite water temperatures greater than 100 degrees Fahrenheit, these sharks remain where there is a wide variety of prey.

#5 Lesser Flamingos

Ol Doinyo Lengai in Tanzania is one of Africa’s most active volcanoes. It is surrounded by some of the world’s most toxic waters. The water is also very hot and often reaches 104 degrees Fahrenheit. The lake is shallow and suffers from evaporation, which concentrates the mineral content. The water often reaches a pH of 12, which would be toxic to most life. Yet, somehow the area has become home to over two million lesser flamingos.

They’ve developed leathery skin on their legs to prevent burning and they can drink water that is near the boiling point. The flamingos also have glands that can remove salt through their nasal cavities. They build mud nests and raise their young there. Competition for food is rare, and because of the toxicity in the water, the flamingos have no worries about predators.

#4 Land Iguana

Fernandina Island in the Galapagos archipelago is home to a very active shield volcano. Many of the archipelago’s endangered creatures live on the island, including land and marine iguanas, penguins, giant tortoises, and sea lions. All of these animals have adapted to living in this dangerous, remote region.

For example, the female land iguana uses the volcano’s thermal heat to incubate her eggs. Every year, thousands of lizards make the 10-day trip from the coast to lay eggs in the warm ash of the La Cumbre volcano. When they reach the top of the volcano, the lizards climb down the sides onto the crater floor. At the bottom, they build nests and drop their eggs into the warm, soft ash.

#3 Vampire Ground Finch

Wolf Island is another volcanic island in the Galapagos archipelago. The animals here suffer from limited food and water. During droughts, the finch population is known to decrease by as much as 90 percent. However, these finches have cleverly adapted to the circumstances. They’ve evolved into “vampires” to allow them to survive in these harsh conditions.

The vampire finch drinks blood to supplement a diet of pulp, cactus nectar, and bird eggs. They also remove parasites from roosting booby seabirds. However, before eating the parasites, the finch’s sharp beak pierces the booby’s flesh to suck out blood. This provides all the nutrients the finch needs. Surprisingly, the boobies don’t put up much resistance. It may be because vampire finches attack in large numbers. The boobies may also consider the bite to be a small price to pay to rid themselves of parasites.

#2 Marine Life Near Guam

A number of active undersea volcanoes lie under the ocean near Guam. Despite eruptions and continued instability, the area supports a unique ecosystem. Animals sustained by the environment include crabs, shrimp, barnacles, limpets, and many other species that have not yet been identified. Somehow, they’ve all adapted to a home so full of toxic chemicals it would kill normal marine life.

The Loihi shrimp, for example, is sustained by grazing for bacterial filaments caused by volcanic activity. Hydrothermal venting allows these filaments to grow on the surrounding rocks. The Loihi shrimp snips the filaments with tiny claws that researchers compare to garden shears.

#1 Thermophiles

Thermophiles are microorganisms that can be found near, or in, volcanoes. Most thermophiles live in temperatures between 140-176 degrees Fahrenheit. The hydrothermal springs at Yellowstone are heated through volcanic activity and are home to a wide variety of thermophiles.

Researchers also look to thermophiles to help them understand Earth’s early history. It’s believed life began under similarly harsh conditions. The first organisms may have even been thermophiles. Studying them not only provides insight into the beginning of life on this planet but also the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.