Deep-sea mineral armourSourced
A snail with iron minerals on the outside
Scaly-foot gastropods live around Indian Ocean hydrothermal vents. Some populations incorporate iron sulphide minerals into their shell coating and foot scales. Other populations lack that dark, iron-bearing layer.
The same species can have different mineral fittings.
Summary / translation: Unbubly · CC BY-SA 4.0
Source and reuse details
Scaly-foot gastropod · Wikimedia contributors
Adapted, summarized and translated from the source. Adapted text is also available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Reviewed: 2026-10-09