These 7 groups of animals live near volcanoes. That’s why!

Volcanoes are dangerous and it is dangerous to call them home. Humanity has boldly settled in the nests of many of these literally explosive environments, and with it a number of incredible animals that not only survive but thrive. From birds to shrimp, these animals are some of the world’s most resilient wildlife. Believe it or not, there are actually animals living inside volcanoes!

Let’s take a look at six groups of animals that call volcanoes home.

# 7 Animal Living Near Volcanoes: Pacific Hibernating Sharks

Located in the waters of Mexico and Japan, the Pacific Sleeper shark loves to live deep in waters with minimal visibility.

Several years ago, National Geographic, during an expedition, discovered these sharks inside the volcano’s caldera. The animals were located just 12 miles from one of the active volcanoes in the waters of the Southwest Pacific Ocean. The water should have been too hot and sour for the sharks, but here they are.

# 6 Volcano Animal: Lesser Flamingos

Tanzania is home to Ol Donyo Lengai, one of the most active volcanoes in Africa. It is surrounded by some of the most toxic waters in the world. The temperature never rises above 104 degrees. The water is filled with minerals such as sodium carbonate. The ecosystem can damage the skin and kill most plants, humans, and animals.

However, somehow the area has become home to over two million small flamingos. They have developed scales on their legs to prevent burns. The skin of birds is so hard that animals can somehow drink water close to the boiling point, and – wait! – able to remove elements such as salt through the nasal cavity.

Flamingos nests are kept on local islands. Competition for food is rare, and due to the toxicity in the area, flamingos don’t worry about predators.

# five Volcanic animal: an archipelagic family of volcanic animals

An untouched and highly active volcano, Fernandina Island, is one of the volcanoes of the Galapagos Islands. It is home to many of the Archipelago’s iconic and endangered creatures. We’re talking about land and sea iguanas, penguins, flightless cormorants, and sea lions. All of these animals have adapted to life in a remote area.

The female land iguana uses the heat of the volcano to protect her eggs. Every year, thousands of lizards make a 10-day journey from the coast to La Cumbre. Having reached the top, the lizards descend the steep slopes to the bottom of the crater. Downstairs, the ladies drop their eggs into the warm soft ash. They think this is the perfect incubation site.

The area is still threatened by earthquakes, eruptions and lava. However, the treacherous landscape does not prevent the lizards from nesting inside the crater.

Like many animals, land iguanas have an uncanny ability to sense problems in their environment. When their instincts alert them of potential volcanic activity, it is not unusual for them to get out of there before safety is no longer an option.

# 4 Volcano Animal: Vampire Ground Finch

You will find Wolf, a volcanic island in the Galapagos Islands, dry and hot. The animals here suffer from lack of food and water. During a drought, the finch population is known to decline by 90 percent.

However, these creatures have cleverly adapted to their dire circumstances. Believe it or not, they turned into vampires! This is a characteristic that allows them to survive in the most difficult conditions.

The vampire finch began drinking blood to supplement the diet of pulp, cactus nectar, and bird eggs. Part of their diet is to remove parasites from the seabirds that spend the night. Before eating the parasites, the finch’s sharp beak pierces the flesh to draw and suck out blood. Practice provides the finch with all the nutrients.

Curiously, the vampire’s main victim, the morons, doesn’t offer much resistance. This could be because the vampire finches are attacking in huge numbers!

The vampire has the largest and sharpest beak of all the subspecies of the sharp-billed ground finch family.

# 3 Volcano Animal: Animals of Guam

There is an active underwater volcano near Guam. Despite erupting and growing, it maintains a unique ecosystem of creatures. Environmentally supported animals include crabs, shrimp, seashells, saucers, and many undiscovered animal species. All of them have somehow adapted to domestic toxicity and the full effects of harsh chemicals.

Loihi shrimp hunt for bacterial filaments with their tiny claws. There is another (still unidentified) species of shrimp that graze in their youth, but when they reach adulthood with enlarged claws, they become predators.

Marine life that wander into volcanic waste dies and becomes food.

# 2 Volcanic Animal: The Non-Island Volcano Ecosystem

The vast majority of volcanoes are either underwater or on islands. If you find a volcano in the country, the wildlife is much more diverse. This is because animals are free to roam, creating populations and using the land.

For example, in the vicinity of Mount St. Helens live rabbits, lynxes, mice, bears and many others. Living in plains and forests, these creatures sense changes in the air around them. They can feel the trouble emanating from the volcano.

Instinct gives them enough time to avoid an imminent eruption of serious power. This trait seems natural to all species that survive in volcanic regions.

# one Volcanic animal: thermophiles

Thermophiles are mainly microorganisms. They live in terribly hot conditions. They can be found near or in volcanoes. Hot pools in Yellowstone National Park are heated by geothermal volcanic activity, which often exceeds boiling point. These environments are home to thriving thermophilic communities. Organisms have unique enzymes (or extremozymes) that protect them from extreme temperatures.

It is known that a thermophile accidentally walks around 252 degrees Celsius.

Thermophiles play an important role in biotechnology. Two species are sources of enzymes used for DNA fingerprinting.

Researchers are also using these organisms to understand the early Earth. It is believed that life began in harsh temporary conditions. The first organisms may have been thermophiles. The theory helps to understand the beginning of life and the possibility of life elsewhere in the universe.

Animals and volcanoes

Land masses across the planet are the result of volcanic activity. Volcanoes are vents through which magma escapes from the core of the Earth. Reaching the surface, the substance changes landscapes. Many species of wild animals have developed skills and adaptations that allow them to survive in various volcanic conditions.

There are two main types of volcanoes. It is underwater or above ground. On this basis, these two types can exist in many forms.

Volcanic underwater ecosystems

It is believed that there are over a million submarine volcanoes. Most of them are extinct or dormant. A curious variety of animals feed on the chemicals released by the eruption. Despite the conditions, their population is thriving and growing. There are shrimp and crabs that feed on the nutrients of hardened lava. Unfamiliar animals that wander into a toxic region also become food.

Volcanic ecosystems at surface level

This is primarily a plant ecosystem. Plants of different types thrive in places of eruptions. You can find vines and even coffee. Plants extract nutrients from ash and cooled lava. Plants tend to grow after eruptions with heavy rainfall. With this rain, animals can return to this region with a sense of some normalcy. Mount St. Helens and the Galapagos Islands are examples of the impact of a volcano at surface level on the ability to adapt after eruptions.

Volcanic tropical ecosystem

Hawaii is a prime example of evolution and adaptation. The state has crickets in need of new lava flows, exotic birds and predatory caterpillars. The islands are home to two dozen species of songbirds that can feed on a fair amount of flowers and insects. The remote and rather isolated animals of the island are mostly made up of flying creatures. Rodents, cats and other domestic animals are considered invasive by local ecologists.

Volcanic non-tropical ecosystems

Non-tropical volcanoes are composed of structures that are not located on islands. You can find running bears, rabbits, rodents and lynxes. These ecosystems have more diverse animals due to their availability. However, the animals that settled there evolved to survive in these volcanic locations.

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