Scientists also are fascinated by the unusual life that inhabits vent sites. These creatures live in darkness, from bacteria to tubeworms (which have no true mouths or stomachs) to large clams, fishes, octopus, crabs, etc. These organisms are supported not by photosynthesis as most food chains, but by sulfur bacteria which chemically fix energy and provide food for the tube worms and clams which in turn are fed on by some of the other species.

Many forms of life live in the hydrothermal vent areas such as giant tubeworms, many different types of worms, clams, fish, crabs and chemo autographs. The chemo autographs are life forms that depend on the chemicals near the hydrothermal vents for their energy source and they synthesize their own food. What is amazing about them is that they get their energy from somewhere other than the sun.