The most 'difficult to eat' shrimp on the planet, can live in water as hot as 450 degrees Celsius

Blind shrimp rimicaris hybisae (deep-sea volcanic shrimp), is a species of shrimp that lives near extremely deep volcanoes at the bottom of the Caribbean Sea, where water temperatures can reach 450 degrees Celsius, a location considered "the hottest on the planet". pure".

They live at a depth of less than 5,000m, in a crack on the seafloor, where a volcano is still spewing hot water into the ocean. Due to the dark environment, most deep-sea volcanic shrimp are completely blind, but they have light receptors on their backs, which help navigate in the dark.

Some interesting characteristics of blind shrimp rimicaris hybisae

High temperature resistance:

Deep-sea volcanic shrimp can survive in harsh environments up to nearly 500 degrees Celsius because their shell is made of a special mineral with a high melting temperature and thermal stability. In addition, cells in shrimp also have the ability to withstand high temperatures, helping them perform normal physiological activities in high-temperature environments.

Withstand high pressure:

Thanks to the compact body structure and well-developed muscles, the cell membrane in shrimp is highly stable, helping deep-sea volcanic shrimp to maintain normal physiological functions in high-pressure environments.

High salt tolerance:

The outer surface of deep-sea volcanic shrimp has a special layer of mucus that can prevent salt from entering the shrimp's body, helping to protect the cells in their body from high salt environments.

Rimicaris hybisae shrimp live in groups of up to 2,000 shrimp/m2 around a 6m high crater with countless vents, the water temperature here can be hotter than 450 degrees Celsius.

David Pac

Update 05 July 2024