Table 1.

Basic metabolism of selected hyperthermophilic archaeal species isolated from hydrothermal vent sites. Modified from Canganella [24].

Microorganisms	Growth Metabolism	Site and Temperature of Isolation	Reference
Pyrodictium occultum	H₂+ S° ⇒ H₂S	Submarine solfataric field off Vulcano, ItalySSubmarine field off Vulcano, Italy; 105 °C ubmarine solfataric field off Vulcano, Italy;	[30]
Pyrodictium abyssi	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H₂S + CO₂ +organic acids	Marine hot abyssal sites black smokers; 97 °C	[31]
Hyperthermus butylicus	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H₂S + butanol + propionic acid	Hydrothermally heated flat-sea sediments off the coast of Sari Miguel, Azores; 100 °C	[32]
Pyrococcus woesei	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H₂S	Vulcano Island Beach, Italy; 104 °C	[32]
Methanopyrus kandleri	H₂ + CO₂ ⇒ CH4	“Black smoker” chimney, sea floor of the Gulf of California; 98 °C	[24]
Pyrolobus fumarii	H₂ + NH3 (or S2O3)−2 ⇒ NH4+1 (or H2S)	“Black smoker”; Mid Atlantic Ridge (depth 3650 m); 106 °C	[26]
Staphylothermus marinus	Yeast extract ⇒ H2S + CO2 + organic acids	Beach of Vulcano, Italy, 92 °C	[26]
Thermococcus guaymasensis	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H2S	Guaymas Basin hydrothermal vent, California, 88 °C	[24]
Thermococcus barophilus	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H2S	Hydrothermal vent site on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge; 85 °C	[24]
Thermodiscus maritimus	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H2S	Hot marine sediment at the beach of Vulcano Island; 90 °C	[26]
Methanococcus jannaschii	H2 + CO2 ⇒ CH4	“White smoker” chimney on the East Pacific Rise at 20°50′ N latitude and 109°06′ W longitude at a depth of 2600 m; 88 °C	[26]
Thermococcus paralvinellae	Organic [H] + S° ⇒ H₂S	Hydrothermal vent chimneys in the north-eastern Pacific Ocean; 28–88 °C	[33]
Pyrococcus furiosus	Organic + S° ⇒ H₂CO₂: + H₂S	Geothermally heated marine sediments at the beach of Porto di Levante, Vulcano, Italy; 100 °C	[26]