Connecting The Dots Project
Sea Pangolin, has become the first marine species officially assessed as endangered due to the potential threat of deep-sea mining
The Scaly-foot snail, also known as the Sea Pangolin, has become the first marine species officially assessed as endangered due to the potential threat of deep-sea mining.
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The Sea Pangolin, scientifically known as Chrysomallon Squamiferum, is a unique and rarely studied deep-sea snail species. It is also commonly referred to as the Scaly-foot snail due to its distinctive armor-like scales covering its foot. This remarkable snail species is specifically adapted to life in the extreme environment of hydrothermal vents, which are deep-sea, geothermal areas characterized by high temperatures up to 750 degrees Fahrenheit, intense pressure about 2,400 meters deep (1.5 miles) underwater, and mineral-rich emissions. The Sea Pangolin's shell is covered in iron sulfide (pyrite) scales, making it one of the few known organisms capable of using iron compounds to create its protective shell. These scales serve as a defense mechanism against potential predators. The Sea Pangolin relies on chemosynthetic bacteria within its body to obtain energy. These bacteria convert the chemicals found in hydrothermal vent fluids into organic compounds that the snail can use for nutrition.
It primarily inhabits specific hydrothermal vent fields in the Indian Ocean. Hydrothermal vents, rich in biodiversity, are now at risk due to human activities, including deep-sea mining. Although technological challenges and commodity prices currently make deep-sea mining economically uncertain, geopolitical interests continue to drive exploration.
The areas targeted for seabed mining, including volcanic regions with concentrated rare minerals like gold, zinc, cobalt, and lithium, lack blanket protection for biodiversity hotspots. The vent field, over 2,400 meters deep and almost 900 kilometers from land, falls under the jurisdiction of the International Seabed Authority, which primarily focuses on deep-sea mining. The Sea Pangolin, initially known from three sites, now faces mining exploration licenses at all but one of its known locations, without any protection.
Researchers and conservationists are advocating for Red List status for hydrothermal vent species worldwide, aiming to highlight the vulnerability of these unique habitats. While some scientists initially expressed concerns about potential research restrictions and legal implications, many now recognize the importance of protecting these species and ecosystems. The endangered status of the Sea Pangolin underscores the urgent need to consider environmental conservation in deep-sea mining activities and preserve the "common heritage of mankind" as designated by the United Nations.
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Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fZ_x-Yy7sUY
https://www.qub.ac.uk/.../endangered-scaly-foot-snail/...