extremophiles - Reflexions

extremophiles

An organism is referred to as an extremophile when its normal ideal living conditions are deadly for the majority of other organisms. Extremophiles include hyperthermophiles (organisms living at a temperature higher or equal to 100°C), psychrophiles (organisms living at a temperature less than or equal to 0°C), halophiles (organisms living in an environment with high salt concentrations), anaerobic organisms (organisms living in an environment deprived of oxygen), piezophiles, organisms that thrive at high pressure (such as the bottom of the ocean), in highly acidic, hyper-alkaline or very radioactive environments or organisms living in complete darkness.
Extremophile organisms most often belong to the branch of bacteria or archaea.