Volcano-prone areas are deemed to be inhabitable for humans, plants, and animals with their extreme conditions. However, a few animals adapt to this unstable habitat quite perfectly. Let's have a look at them:
Lesser flamingo: These flamingos live near Ol Donyo Lengai volcano in Tanzania, in the alkaline Lake Natron. Evolving to these extreme conditions with tough scaly skins, they are immune to burns from the caustic water and can drink near-boiling water without any harm.
Fumarole Snail: Living underwater near volcanic vents, these deep-sea snails adapt to the extreme conditions of hydrothermal activity.
Vampire Ground finch: Living on the Galapagos volcanic island of Wolf, this bird thrives by sipping the blood of booby seabirds, cactus nectar, and bird eggs.
Hawaiian Blackfoot limpet: Also called as ‘Fish of Death’, these aquatic snails are often seen clinging to the rocky shores near Hawaii’s Volcanoes National Park with their strong feet.
Galapagos Yellow Land iguana: Thriving on one of the most active volcanoes of the Galapagos, Fernandina Island, this iguana uses the volcano’s thermal heat to incubate their eggs. They are evolved to sense increased activity in the volcanoes which allows them to fly to safety.
Lava Lizard: Largely found throughout the Galapagos archipelago, this reptile is recognizable with its peculiar behaviour of rapid head bobbing and push-up stances. They also change colours when feel threatened or there is a change in temperature.
Marine iguanas: Thriving underwater near the volcanoes of the Galapagos Islands, these iguanas have adapted to the extreme conditions with their unique bodily features.
Pacific Sleeper shark: Residing around deep underwater volcanoes, these sharks thrive in extreme conditions. They have a slow metabolism and the ability to eat varieties of prey which helps them survive in the unstable environment.
Axolotl: Native to Mexico, Axolotls are aquatic salamanders that live in volcanic lakes of Mexico, including Lake Xochimilco. They are known for their regenerative abilities and external gills which help them thrive in volcanic water.
Volcano Scorpion: Found in the Mojave desert, these scorpion species adapted to the desert’s dry habitat with challenging volcanic landscapes.