If you want something weird which doesn't seem like it belongs on planet earth, you've come to the right place. Some scientists think that archaea are the oldest types of organisms, and they live where other critters can't. For this reason, they are sometimes called "extremophiles" which means lovers of the extreme. This large grouping is divided into three phyla, but not all scientists agree what goes where:
Methanogens - methane producing bacteria. These live in nasty places, like inside of intestines and at the bottom of stagnant ponds. They produce methane.
Halophiles - salt loving bacteria. You won't find a lot of living things in extremely salty places, but you'll find these bacteria. Some are located in the Great Salt Lake and the Dead Sea.
Thermophiles - heat loving bacteria. Most of the time heat will kill living things, but not these lil' guys. They can live in hot springs, near under-water volcanoes and in near boiling water.
Clicking on the picture will take you to the site where I originally found it.
